The Performance Collapse When Curated Selves Break Down

Source: Shityoushouldcareabout

The article hinges on a consumer insight: people are exhausted by constant self-curation and actively rejecting the pressure to perform. This appears in real markets—the rise of “authenticity” as a category (from unfiltered social content to raw-ingredient beauty), the monetization of behind-the-scenes access, and platforms rewarding unpolished moments—because audiences prefer genuine moments over polished ones. The economic implication is significant: brands built on aspirational positioning (luxury, wellness, lifestyle) face consumers who see that performance as labor they’re no longer willing to do, either for themselves or through purchases.