What Is Performative Behaviour And How Do We Respond To It?

Imagine you're scrolling the 'gram and every single post is filtered to perfection, smiles all round and oozing gorgeousness. Now picture your neighbour excitedly posting on FB about how they're off to a protest - 'cause y'know - everyone's doing it, right? 🤷🏼‍♀️

If any of the above scenarios sound vaguely familiar - you're not alone. Performative behaviour is massively on the rise - but what does that even mean? Let's suss it out! 

What the heck does 'performative' mean?

Performative behaviour is defined as an action taken specifically with an audience in mind, to elicit a response or reaction. In other words, it’s living for the likes. Only doing things so people notice you're doing them (we've all seen those cringe surprising-my-gf-with-a-car vids). 😬

Then there's virtue signalling, which is very similar -  virtue signaling is the act of sharing your opinion about an injustice online so it looks like you’re doing the right thing. 🤦‍♀️

In a poll we conducted on insta, we revealed a massive 89% of young adults think that brands take advantage of moments like Mardi Gras and Pride Month - and while some concluded their social media posts show acts of solidarity, others instead used the term 'performative activism'.  

We're increasingly surrounded by a culture of performative behaviour, and it's dramtically fueled by social media. It's literally everywhere; making it hard to not join in. Heck we've all indulged - we're only human. Who doesn't love the validation of a like? 

It just means it's become normal to shift your awareness from enjoyment of the moment to only caring about what others' might think. Or only doing something nice to recieve a reward in the form of insta comments or TikTok followers. Or appearing to be invested in issues - but do little to actually effect change.

Where did it come from? And can it go back from whence it came?! 🧐

The concept of performative behaviour only really meant actual acting or performance not too long ago - but with reality shows like MAFS and Too Hot To Handle, forced scenes have done a great job in blurring the lines between real and 'scripted reality'.

Folks, we've entered a whole new world.

The rise of influencers and reality show stars means we've been lead to believe their lives are a reflection of reality. And that people simply posting hashtags to support a cause is admirable - when it's anything but.

People working to invoke change are probs doing more than the old hashtag or odd post. And I'd argue the happiest people are those too busy enjoying life and being in the moment to post every. Second. Of. Their. Life. For the heart reacts. Not that I'm judging - I am defs one of the people who post on my stories on the reg! It's a sign of the times, people.

It's not all sunshine and rainbows - and that's ok 🌤

Although it might seem like everyone is out there having a grand ol' time, looking like a snack all day erry day and doing the right thing - life doesn't actually work like that. And it's dangerous to see it like that too.

There are mistakes made, lessons learned and certainly - now and again - ugly old nighties shoved on. It's easy to slip into this culture of performing for others on social media; making sure we look suuuuper happy in every post, pretending we care about certain things 'cause everyone else does - but that just takes you further from your actual self. 🌈

How do we respond to it? 💥

Listen, it might seem a bit doom n' gloom that we've become a world of pretending; that people only focus on posting their highlight reels. But it's not all bad - there are genuine people out there too showing a whole range of situations and emotions, trying to help people realise that it's ok to be real.

But how can we tell the difference between what's real and what's performative? We can't, really. 🌚 But that's ok. I reckon the solution is to focus on what matters to us and act on it; live our lives the way we think is best and try not to worry too much about comparing our lives or actions to others' - that's a slippery slope. ❤️