Please stop this ghastly new up-yourself Facebook trend.

BY HARRIET PAWSON

Enough with the so blessed.

Seriously. Enough.

Looking through my Facebook and Instagram feeds, I’ve started to feel faintly sick with all the bragging and the boasting, the showing off and the vanity.

Sometimes it’s explicit. Like the friend who says things like “Having a great night out with the girls!”, tagging her six friends but posting only a close-up selfie her own (duck) face.

This has become the predominant currency of social media; girls posting pointless selfies for no other reason than because they think they look good.

I know that we’re meant to encourage women to feel good which is why I’m a bit torn about this.

I don’t wish to return to the magazine-land ideal of trying to make women feel inferior or insecure. But surely there’s a difference between self esteem and being a tosser?

And don’t get me started on the infuriating new thing where people are using the words #soblessed as some kind of humble disclaimer after listing all the great things they have or the amazing things they’ve done.

Be honest, you’re boasting not blessed. It’s faux humility of the worst kind and it makes me cringe.

“Just bought the apartment of my dreams, scored a major promotion and boyfriend turned up with a big bunch of flowers. #SoBlessed #BestBoyfriendEver

I’m all for gratitude but that’s not what this is. This, my (Facebook) friends, is called being up yourself.

When I was at school, being up yourself was the worst crime you could commit. Is there anything more “UnAustralian?”

We have always been famous for our self-deprecation.

Admittedly, at its ugly worst, self deprecation can twist into tall poppy syndrome ,which is terrible thing when it’s used to tear down successful people.

But I can’t help but think there’s merit in not letting someone get too big for their boots.

Nobody likes a bragger except on social media where it seems to be compulsory.

People are posting close-ups of their engagement rings and their push-present rings with details about stones and carats as if they are some measure of worth, either of their relationship or themselves.

Others pretend they’re posting photos of the beach when what they’re actually wanting you to look at is their body in a bikini.

And sometimes, if you’re not feeling hot or loved or successful or blessed……..social media can sometimes feel like the popular kids are having a party and you’re not invited.

So what? So what, you’re asking. What is your point?

Well, I’m worried that humility and self-deprecation is a good thing and I would hate for them to become extinct.  I think we can be proud of our successes while not rubbing them in the faces of those who might not share our good fortune.

Because while it’s important and wonderful to congratulate our friends, it can be hard to do when everyone is too busy congratulating themselves to hear you.