To some, being authentic and having an online presence may sound like paradoxical concepts. Those who have found success on the internet, however, know that showing up as your true, unfiltered self is often one of the best ways to build an audience. In a social media landscape that's endlessly abundant with content, posting in a way that's genuine may actually be the key to standing out. In other words: sincerity is in.
On Monday, Meta-owned Instagram announced its "Rings" award, which is "all about celebrating those who aren't afraid to take creative chances and do it their way," according to a new blog post from the company. A panel of creatives, including Instagram head Adam Mosseri, designer Marc Jacobs, actress Yara Shahidi and YouTuber Marques Brownlee, nominated Instagram creators and voted for who they believe deserves the "Rings" award.