Instagram model quits posting selfies to tell the truth about social media

That feeling, the one where you anxiously wait for the 11th like on your latest Instagram selfie, is the reason why fashion and beauty blogger Essena O'Neill decided to quit social media last week.

After three years of posting YouTube videos, Instagram photos and Tumblr posts to more than 500,000 followers, the 18-year-old Australian says she realized the effect that all those likes and clicks had on her — and on social media users in general.

See also: When it comes to Photoshop, Hollywood stars are saying enough is enough

Real caption edit: @rachael_consaul took some great photos. Without a doubt she is talented. Originally I wanted them for my new site essenaoneill.com Oh how much can change in a few small weeks. I now wish I wasn't wearing such a mask. I love this dress for it makes me feel like a fairy. What wasn't captured was the long talks we had sitting on the beach waiting for golden hour lighting. That's real life, this image is contrived beauty, not real.

A photo posted by Social Media Is Not Real Life (@essenaoneill) on Oct 1, 2015 at 7:40pm PDT Read more...

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