At 11.24 pm, Shreyan Sengupta switches from his main Instagram account to his private one — a quiet, closed circle of just 16 followers. He types out a story about an awkward encounter at a bar, hitting “Post” without a second thought. Within minutes, a few replies trickle in. “Dude, the same thing happened to me once,” one friend writes. 

It’s not viral. It’s not even meant to be. But it’s real. And that’s enough. This kind of digital intimacy, away from the curated feeds and performance of public platforms, is becoming the norm for many in Gen Z. In a world that demands constant visibility, they’re carving out softer, quieter corners of the internet where being vulnerable doesn’t mean being watched. They don’t have to perform there. It’s a safe space, one where they can retreat and feel emotionally protected.