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By Alyce Collins
Senior Reporter
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Social media can make it seem like everyone else's lives are so much better than your own—so one man has decided to balance out unrealistic content with an insight into his "under-aesthetic life."
Grant Magdanz often finds himself scrolling through Instagram or TikTok when bored. But he told Newsweek that he struggles with the feeling of "not being good enough" and social media heightens that pressure.
Magdanz, of Los Angeles, California, felt compelled to start posting about his life to offer a more realistic perspective. As a 30-year-old man living with his 90-year-old grandma, Barbara, his life may not have the perfect Instagram aesthetic, but they couldn't be happier with their normal life.
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He said: "We live in a small apartment that my grandma has lived in for decades, I drive her old car and she's had the same furniture my whole life. But her apartment feels like a home. She didn't design or curate it; she filled the apartment with what she could afford over time, gifts from others and things that are meaningful to her.
"So much content makes me feel like I'm living incorrectly, or that I'm not where everyone else is. But sharing aspects of my life helps me fight off those feelings of inadequacy. I create content and think about what others might relate to and resonate with."
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Magdanz moved in with his grandma in January 2024 after losing his job in New York City in November 2023. He decided to finally start his own business, but to do that he needed to move out of New York. Since his grandma had a spare bedroom, it felt like a win-win to move in with her.
Of course, being a 30-year-old man living with his elderly grandma "catches people's attention," he said, but the time together has made their relationship so much stronger. Not only do they help each other out, but they're forming memories he will cherish forever.
"I know her better, and I know more of our family's story. I grew up in Alaska and she lives in L.A., so I saw her a few times a year but didn't know her well until becoming an adult. I feel connected to my roots, which is so meaningful and important," Magdanz said.
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Social Media Users React
Magdanz often posts about their life on his Instagram account @grantmagdanz. One video that he shared in September of their home setup went viral with over 7.6 million views and 453,000 likes on the platform.
The reaction to the video was overwhelmingly positive, as it resonated with so many people who praised Magdanz for showing what normal life looks like.
"It's been meaningful to see others relate to it, it helps me feel less alone," he told Newsweek.
He continued: "One of Instagram's impacts on pop culture is the aesthetic. Lives are made first and foremost for the camera now, but cameras are tricky. They can tell the truth and create fiction. It's impossible to discern which is which from pictures. But social media is not the real world and the content we consume massively impacts how we see ourselves."
Sharing aspects of his life has been a fulfilling experience for Magdanz, and he hopes to show people that they truly are enough as they are.
Since going viral on Instagram, the post has amassed over 11,000 comments—many of which resonated with Magdanz's situation and praised his honesty.
One comment said: "You and your grandma are blessed to have each other."
Another Instagrammer wrote: "You're such a pure soul. I love that! Wishing you all love and happiness."
A third added: "I'm approaching 30 soon, and everything you shared matches me as well."
And one user said: "I lived with my grandparents from 16 to 25. It was the best 9 years of my life. I miss them so much."
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