My glückpilz (lucky mushroom/ good luck charm) from Germany What does it mean to be real? A lifestyle Instagrammer might decide to take a break from all her normal photos to share something that is “real”. It lacks filters or artistic arrangement in the trade of something “less” pretty. Even if this “real” post exaggerates the dirt with humor, we applaud the woman for her bravery in being real. Someone might make a Facebook post and say, “You might not know this, but I’m actually NOT doing well.” Even if she makes these posts on a regular basis, we admire her willingness to be real. More than we admire the person who is active in politics, society, economics, theology, philosophy, or other real-world problems. I’ve heard people complaining that social media is depressing because it’s full of fake people posting about a life that’s unattainable and unrealistic; as if someone’s artistic or encouraging words or photos automatically must cause dissatisfaction in our own lives. ...