Jr. Whopper suffering body-image anxiety after comparing self to Instagram models
Details continue to emerge regarding Instagram’s harmful effects on today’s youth. Instances of depression and anxiety have been widely reported by a large share of its young users. Today, we present the heartbreaking story of one Instagram user, which indicates these problems may be even more widespread than initially thought.
On the surface, Jr. Whopper looks like your average discount fast-food cheeseburger: Beef patty that doesn’t match the size of its buns with condiments and toppings heavily concentrated in one small area, rather than being evenly distributed. She is humble, understanding she’s not a meal meant for royalty, but that her type is sought and devoured by millions of regular people each year.
Dig a little deeper, however, and one finds a burger who is calling out for help, as though she’s sinking into a hole she can’t crawl out of. Like so many youths across the globe, Jr. Whopper is addicted to Instagram, and it is making her miserable. Try as she might, she just can’t look away.
It started innocently enough. Jr. Whopper joined the platform in March 2020, primarily looking at funny memes and cat videos. But as time wore on, she began looking at photos of other burgers—and not of the dollar-menu variety, but of perfectly manicured burger models. Jr. Whopper couldn’t help but compare herself to what she was seeing online, and not a single flaw was missed. It started making her depressed.
Sesame seeds, for example, were a real issue of concern. “I only have a couple dozen sesame seeds on my bun, and a lot of them will fall off in the wrapper before anyone even sees them,” she said. “But a lot of burgers have three times that many, and they are firmly attached. Some even have sesame seeds on the bottom bun.”
Then there is the robust beef patties and mouthwatering cheese that dominate the platform. “You look at some of these burgers on Instagram, with their beef and cheese and pickles billowing out every which way,” said Jr. Whopper’s mother, Whopper. “I know a lot of mothers out there who agree they are showing too much flesh and need to cover up. It’s like, why even have a bun at all if you’re going to dress like that? And the bacon! Don’t get me started on the bacon."
Whopper reminds her daughter that most of the photos she sees on Instagram were taken fresh off the grill when the cheese is still hot and melty. Plus, she says, they put so much attention on having just the right angle and lighting. This is not how burgers look in real life.
“I keep trying to tell her that she has value,” Whopper said. “In fact, I remind her that her value has even gone up over the past six months, but she quickly shoots back that inflation has caused the prices of all kinds of burgers to increase and that she's nothing special. I swear, she’s sharp as a tack, and I think her intelligence is attractive. If only I could get her to feel the same way.”
Sadly, Jr. Whopper’s agony is not uncommon among youths. Instagram declined to comment on this story, other than to say it is “working on it.” What exactly that means remains to be seen.
Originally published November 24, 2021.