I really do believe social media was initially created to connect people. I think there were good intentions behind the original concept. Connect, share, encourage, and promote. But as time has gone on, we’ve seen the dynamic change. We’ve seen social media transform into a platform where we’ve turned into false versions of ourselves. Versions where we’re so concerned about how we’re viewed and what it takes to earn that online validation, that we completely lose touch of what matters most: the authentic side of each and every one of us.

There’s a need in the social media space for those that want to show their real side, their authentic side, without filters, and without inhibitions. Klybourne was created for those that don’t need filters, for those that don’t need to sell a false version of themselves to the rest of the internet, and for those that have something real to show the world. We’re here for those that long for a platform that showcases their hard work, drive, and ambition. A platform that eliminates the toxicity, the politics, the negativity and the judgements. Klybourne is not about ‘one-upping’ the next person. It’s not about using ‘likes’ or a thumbs up as a way to value someone’s self-worth. It’s about making a name for yourself, being humble about your successes, and using that leverage to advance in life. Every one of us is exceptional, unique, and has a story to tell. When we strip away all the noise that pollutes social media, we end up with a pure version of us…..and that’s the goal of Klybourne. To show the world outside the ambition we hold inside.

Social media can often feel like an artificial universe in which people’s lives consist primarily of exotic vacations, perfect relationships, smiling babies and photogenic meals. We’re now even flooded with apps that let us change everything about ourselves, from skin tone to height, and essentially allow us to turn into a version of ourself that is purely manufactured by the dominant forces in social media. Being your authentic self can be more challenging than ever as we become more immersed in our screen obsessed world. This leads us to present images that have become more about presentations of who we think we should be as opposed to who we really are. The good thing is that the word is out. It’s no longer a secret that the insecure use Facebook, Instagram and other platforms to promote a life that is rarely real. It’s the ultimate “humble-brag”, but it’s more brag than humble, and as more people start to catch on, their longing for a platform that promotes the authentic side of us, not the photoshopped version that we use as a false sense of security, becomes more evident.

Brene Brown once said authenticity requires us to let go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embrace who we are. Let’s think about that for a second. If we can let go of this image that the current state of social media thinks we’re supposed to be and realize that it’s our authenticity that separate us from the crowd, then we can gain the confidence we need to be the best version of ourselves…..the authentic version. This is what employers notice. This is what schools notice. This is what recruiters notice. This is what our peers and mentors notice. Klybourne is here to peel away at the façade that other social media sites have us put up. It’s Brene Brown once said authenticity requires us to let go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embrace who we are. Let’s think about that for a second. If we can let go of this image that the current state of social media thinks we’re supposed to be and realize that it’s our authenticity that separate us from the crowd, then we can gain the confidence we need to be the best version of ourselves…..the authentic version. This is what employers notice. This is what schools notice. This is what recruiters notice. This is what our peers and mentors notice. Klybourne is here to peel away at the façade that other social media sites have us put up. It’s here to lift the hood and show the world what’s really important: our character, our drive, our ambition, and our heart.

Once we stop trying to be someone else, and become comfortable with who we are as an individual, then that confidence becomes infectious. It spreads to others and now we’ve created an environment where people are feeling more comfortable in their own skin, with their own talents, and with their own ambitions. It’s harder than ever for us to be our true selves in the technology age. We’re constantly balancing aspects of ourselves in order to better fit in, to be respected for who we are, and to fulfill our purpose. At the same time though, we live in a society that values superficiality over authenticity, fake over real, the easy way over the hard way. Klybourne is here to change that story, and to help the next generation tap into their originality and authenticity. Join a platform that moves away from “fitting in” and the adaptive self, and moves towards living a life according to your values, your purpose, your ambitions and your dreams. This is Klybourne. Tell your story.