I am afraid it’s official; the #ParentSelfie is the #NoMakeup selfie of 2017 and it’s looking to take over your feed all summer long. I developed this theory recently, when an Instagram Story documenting my parents’ new-found obsession with ITV2’s Love Island (yes, obviously I’m watching — did you expect anything else?) became my most popular social-media venture to date.
Anyone who happened to find themselves within a 4ft radius of a social-media platform this Father’s Day will be well acquainted with the fact that the online marketplace for “parent pics” is growing rapidly. Merely an hour after sunrise on “Hashtag Father’s Day”, my Instagram feed was infected with bouquet of moustachioed, check-shirt-wearing, glasses-bearing older men. In my panicked rush to jump on the bandwagon,
I found myself posting a picture of me and my dad before actually getting in touch with the man IRL (in real life). Showering in the downpour of the likes and comments that my loving-caption-adorned photo received, it was midday before I remembered I had only professed my love for my father via social media and so managed to send him a hurried text.
Personal parental neglect aside, the purpose of this story is to inform you that there has never been a more fruitful time to get your elderly relatives onto your ’gram. There is something humble and self-deprecating about allowing traditionally embarrassing ’rents onto your social media. While posting a picture of yourself looking hot in a nice dress may be too self-indulgent for those of us who aren’t fashion bloggers, roping a grandparent into the picture turns it from vain to “hashtag relatable” in a matter of minutes.
Parents also make optimal content for your Snapchat or Instagram Story. In 2017, everyone is an amateur vlogger and a 30-second clip of your dad trying to understand what on earth a “recoupling” ceremony is might be your best bet at creating some comical content without having to get off the sofa. My own parents don’t tend to take issue with being used as social-media fodder; for me, it partly feels like payback for the many years of being made to pose in front of foreign landmarks and smile at the camera during my inevitably awkward preteen phase. But in honour of my plans to milk them dry for likes this summer, this week’s hit list is an homage to parents everywhere, with my selection of over-50-approved Gen Z picks.
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li.st app
If there was ever a social-media application to appeal to your dad, the List App might be it. Founded by BJ Novak, the American Office writer, this relatively young platform is essentially Instagram for lists. I’ve been a member since its “beta” stage and the best thing about the app is the community that has developed within it. It’s hugely popular with writers and comedians, with the likes of Lena Dunham and Mindy Kaling regularly uploading their own offerings to the growing collection of hilarious, artfully written and often surprisingly moving lists. This isn’t an app for your everyday to-do list, but if you feel like getting creative and sharing your favourite books, family photos or just exploring John Mayer’s (yes, the John Mayer) list titled Thoughts About Oranges, then I can thoroughly recommend downloading it.
Rachel Antonoff
This ridiculously hip, classy and quirky clothing brand has started shipping to the UK (huzzah). However, the reason this wonderful designer is getting a shout-out on this particular parent-focused hit list is that she has just released a sweater with a pair of ovaries emblazoned on the front. It’s destined to be one of the most Instagrammable pieces of autumn, and if you’re after the perfect item of clothing to buy for the woman who literally grew you within her for nine months, then an intarsia reproductive-system sweater might be it.
@mstinalawson
While the news of the birth of Royal Couple of the Universe Bey and Jay-Z’s twins was undoubtedly exciting, I was personally just thrilled by the thought of Ms Tina becoming a grandma yet again. If you’re not following the woman who birthed Beyoncé and Solange on Instagram, then I seriously beg you to question what you are doing with your life.
Tweet or Instagram me with anything on your current hit list
