Gemma Collins might have 1.4million followers on Instagram, but, still, she thinks life was easier before it.
The reality star - who has just launched her own show Diva Forever - took to the ‘gram yesterday to share some stunning throwback photos.
Wearing a green swimsuit (and without her now trademark blonde locks), the star looked incredible soaking up the sun on a boat - but she had an important message to share.
‘I never grew up body conscious, it wasn’t a thing when I was younger,’ she began the post.
‘I was just young, free and me… Yeah I look good, but In an innocent way, there was no panic…
‘This pic was NOT taken to fit in with a wall page on make it Instagram worthy...
‘Instagram is way too exposed now for young members who are on here… They do have pressure and it’s just so nice to look back on this picture and not have had any of that pressure growing up.’
She added, ‘I think it’s so important for our younger generation to be body confident and free.
‘Also the way people expose themselves now days on the gram is way too much, nothing is held back anymore, everything is on show nothing is left to the imagination. It is way too much… Younger ones are watching.
‘I just want to say to the younger ones on insta be YOU and don’t worry about what you see on insta be young, be happy and free.’
Gemma is right; there is too much pressure on young people to look selfie-ready at all times, especially those who have grown up with the app. In a poll by the charity Girlguiding in 2017, 35% of girls aged 11-21 said their biggest worry online was comparing themselves to others.
Instagram - no matter how much we love it or hate it - is regularly cited as the worst app for mental health. The Royal Society for Public Health last year found that about 63 percent of Instagram users reported feeling miserable.
Most worryingly, we simply don’t know how the app is going to affect people who have grown up documenting their every move.
Thankfully, while I didn’t grow up totally Instagram-free, it only really became popular when I was 15, meaning the pressures of looking good online didn’t impact me until I was old enough to know that most photos online are beautified through a filter.
I know that if it had existed when I was a pre-teen, there would have been no chance I would have worn yellow jeans and blue eyeshadow without a care in the world; I probably would have learnt to contour a lot younger, and been far more critical about my appearance.
I had braces and orange glasses which no filter would cover - luckily though, those photos will never make it on to social media.
But, as Gemma said, I never would have had to worry about it anyway.
READ MORE: Gemma Collins Proves She Is The Ultimate Hyphenate As She Launches Career As A Popstar