Open Instagram and you’ll find a ton of new stories to watch while you procrastinate at your desk.

I see you.

Of all the stories you’ll find, though, there’s one that will get far more attention from you than all of the others – your own.

I’ve probably posted two Instagram stories since the platform was created, and one of them was for work. As such, I can’t really relate to the need to rewatch one’s own content, which is why I’ll defer to Mashable:

Grace, a 17-year-old student in Tennessee, said in an interview that she often finds herself rewatching her own Stories, particularly ones that include a picture of her. “I guess I just care a little more about what people are thinking about a picture of me [and] who has seen it,” she said. When she rewatches those stories, she explained, “I’m obsessing over if the picture is good or not.”

Stories disappear after 24 hours, so they allow you to post something without the stress of knowing that it’s going to be on the internet forever.

It means you can “feel cute” without having to include the disclaimer “might delete later”.

A propensity for rewatching doesn’t necessarily need to be about your own appearance, though. Joey, a 28-year-old furniture maker in Boston, Massachusetts, says he’s most likely to rewatch Stories where he’s shared his solo pursuits: a meal he’s made, a walk he’s taken, a view he’s seen. Images of himself aren’t a factor.

Here the rewatch seems to have something to do with wanting to see how you appear to other people, in terms of your lifestyle or achievements.

Psychology can back this up.

According to Dr. Allison Forti, an assistant professor of counselling at Wake Forest University, the tendency to watch our own fleeting content can be partially explained by a psychological concept called the “looking glass self,” which posits that people’s sense of self is rooted partially in how they feel they’re perceived by others.

And now you know.

Having solved the mystery of why you rewatch your stories, feel free to get back to rewatching your stories.

It’s almost Friday – power through.

[source:mashable]