Keep it real (please).

Personally, there’s nothing that bothers more than people being fake, either in real life or on my Instagram feed. Whether it’s a classmate pretending to love something they don’t, a celebrity pushing a brand they’ve never used, or a company talking like a robot, people can tell and are tired of it.

“In relationships, with rare exception, we’re drawn to people who are able to share their feelings and their true selves, admit their flaws, and be honest and open, or authentic. We feel a connection with such people because we know we can trust in and rely on them.” – Likeable Social Media

We live in a world where AI can write captions, plan entire content calendars, and even generate images to post online. But AI has only made realness more valuable than ever. The more digital “fakeness” we scroll through, the more we crave something genuine and in simple terms, human.

While social media has always valued perfection, personality is now even more important. People want to know there’s a real human behind the screen, someone who loves what they do because that’s what builds trust.

Your Audience Can Tell When It’s Real

While AI can be helpful for brainstorming content or kickstarting ideas, your audience wants something deeper: authenticity. When people see AI-generated graphics or captions instead of your original work, it can feel like a shortcut and lack of effort. But when you share your real ideas, your creative process, and even your missteps, it builds something more important than reach, trust. A behind-the-scenes photo, a messy sketchbook page, or a caption written from personal experience is far more meaningful than anything AI could generate. It reminds your audience there’s a real person behind the screen, and that’s what they connect with most, forming a sense of community.

“If you are real, authentic, and human in your interactions, customers and prospects will trust you, buy from you, and most important, share you with their friends.” –Likeable Social Media

In a world full of filters, fillers and fakeness, being real is necessary. Social media moves fast. Trends change, algorithms shift, new tools drop every day. But trust stays with your audience. People will always remember the accounts and people that they related to. 

Hey, I’m Ashley!

I am a graphic & interactive designer passionate about creating purposeful, fun, and engaging design. Whether it’s a brand identity, a responsive website, or a social media campaign, I love connecting ideas with strategy to make work that’s not only beautiful, but effective.