It is no secret that the uprise of social media has taken its toll on the self esteem of many. With apps like Instagram now so intimately intertwined with our personal lives, the trends of unplugging, taking social media breaks and even deleting accounts for an extended period of time are becoming more and more common. But what if we changed the way we used social media and made it a space that felt safe, comfortable and could help us in times of need?

The population of DU’s student body is only about 10 percent Latinx, so feelings of loneliness and/or disconnection from Latinx culture are not uncommon. With as much time as we spend on social media, we ought to make the best of it by following people and pages who represent Latinx culture in a positive light and unfollowing any pages that make us feel discouraged about our identity or body image or that fail to represent realistic standards of beauty. The following accounts are some of my favorite ones to follow that give me a daily dose of orgullo and Latinx love.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmME0NrlDc2/?taken-by=remezcla

REMEZCLA: All things music, culture & entertainment

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmveh7qBLZX/?taken-by=fiercebymitu

Fierce By Mitú: Female-focused version of the classic Mitú. Memes, entertainment, and news to follow.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm2NtuwFK9N/?taken-by=vivalabonita

Viva La Bonita: LA based lifestyle & apparel brand focused on all things Latina-power

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmj5Vo1B8Px/?taken-by=themujerista

The Mujerista: Inspiring stories and news about powerful Latinas just when you needed an extra little encouragement

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmO5_uph7io/?taken-by=latinaspoderosas

Latinas Poderosas: Inspiring pictures to celebrate the pride and power of Latina women