Do you still believe in Instagram happiness? Well, think again
I have a friend who is very active on social media. Upon noticing that her last post was in March, I was worried and messaged her. "Are you ok?". She replied: "I'm completely fine! I'm on a trip with a friend and took a break from Instagram."
It was such a relief to know that she was enjoying real life. At the same time, I was surprised at how I used Instagram as a kind of parameter of well-being. After all, to what extent do I believe in mere photos - or the lack of them?
I'm a curious researcher about the impact of social media on our mental health. At this point, I should not be deceived by what I see on my feed because I'm pretty conscious about the fact that posts are just a fraction of one's life.
This seems even clearer when I think about countless acquaintances who are the opposite of the friend I mentioned in the first paragraph. They are miserable and empty in real life but, on Instagram, all they share is joy, success, and namastê.
Fake smiles
Researching the reasons that lead people to have a "persona" online, which does not always correspond to reality, I found this article. It brings an "experiment" proposed by the writer and podcast host Tracy Clayton in 2018, on Twitter.
"I'm curious. If you're comfortable doing so, post a picture of you that you shared on social media where you were actually having a really tough time in life even though you look perfectly fine in the picture", she wrote.
Several followers answered her with pictures of smiles, accompanied by captions that explain the context before the click. There are stories about financial problems, anxiety crises, panic attacks, breakups, eating disorders, chronic illness, postpartum depression, bullying, sexual assault, and even suicidal thoughts.
I felt that those people were trying to escape reality through those fake smiles. It is worth checking the stories, just to confirm that we all have vulnerabilities.
Fake perfect life
I'm not suggesting that there is no truth on social media, or that everybody is superficial; nor that we should start to share misfortunes. I do believe that we can get some positive feelings from Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
Photos of paradisiac places and happy moments could be a big source of inspiration. To see images of cute puppies could bring us a smile on a boring day, right? And what would become of us without the fun of social media? Humorous posts can be a sweet form of criticism and invite us to reflect.
What matters, overall, is to be able to identify if your social media consumption is affecting your emotional status for good or bad, as researches show.
Especially during the pandemic, when some people followed the social isolation, some not, some pictures could trigger comparison and rise symptoms of depression, loneliness, anxiety, and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
So, have you tried to unfollow that friend who lives a fake life, and, instead, follow who inspires you in a good way? Have you tried to use these tools less passively, and more actively, to make true connections?
When well-used, social media can bring us a sense of community, support, life satisfaction, and knowledge.
So, forget about the "perfect life" that some people show there. And, more than that: if you miss a friend, call them, or send a private message.
Don't rely on photos. Technology is wonderful, yes indeed, but the most meaningful things still occur in real life.
Back to reality
Here are some documentaries to help us to see social media more realistically.
Fake Famous - 2021 (HBO) It shows how easy it is for a regular person to become a successful influencer, by buying followers and manipulating a fake life on Instagram.
Fake Famous - 2021 (HBO)
It shows how easy it is for a regular person to become a successful influencer, by buying followers and manipulating a fake life on Instagram.
The Social Dilemma - 2020 (Netflix)Explores the behavioral and mental impacts caused by social networks, based on interviews with experts and former big tech companies employees like Google, Facebook, and YouTube.
The Social Dilemma - 2020 (Netflix)
Explores the behavioral and mental impacts caused by social networks, based on interviews with experts and former big tech companies employees like Google, Facebook, and YouTube.
Social Animals - 2018 (Prime Video, Apple TV and others)Follows the high and lows of three young people who search for fame and acceptance through their online life exposure.
Social Animals - 2018 (Prime Video, Apple TV and others)
Follows the high and lows of three young people who search for fame and acceptance through their online life exposure.
