Social media was a great invention for friends and family to connect at long (and short) distances, sharing content that was on the internet, common interests, and connecting with new people. The initial creation of social media was incredibly advantageous to the world of business and long-distance communication. We can’t deny the advantages and possibilities different social media platforms offer. Unfortunately, the creation took a sinister turn. Platforms are being used for fame and false advertising, constant dopamine rushes from stimulating videos, and blatant narcissism from receiving constant attention. Many of us don’t realize the long-term effect this has on us, and the consequences we may reap.
Depression
Social media makes the rat race completely visible to the naked eye every time you open the app. Poster-perfect lifestyles are displayed for the whole world to see. Subconsciously, this creates a battle within our heads. Making you feel unworthy and that you must outshine the people that are presenting their glamorous lifestyles. But as previously preached, you are only seeing the side of people’s lives that they want you to see. It shows a much less human side of our lives. It doesn’t show the struggles that these people face every day, just like me and you. But instead makes us believe that we are lower than the person we are currently viewing on the screen. If they posted all the bad things in their lives, they probably wouldn’t be praised for it now, would they?
A False Sense of Love
We all long to be loved by another in life, one aside from our immediate family. But the problem is that there is a false sense of love that comes from social media. We think just because a picture we post of ourselves gets a lot of likes and attention that people inherently love or adore us. Unfortunately, this is another deception. People like your photos for all the wrong reasons. Envy, lust, or infatuation are all things that drive us to hit that heart button on Instagram. The user that posted this photo now gets this false sense of love from their audience. Thinking they like them for who they are – even though they don’t really know them. This has been extremely destructive for the Z generation and its understanding of true love. Causing a paradox of people loving themselves more than they love others. Subconsciously realizing the effect their beauty has on people, now becomes a weapon they cherish, which eventually leads to narcissism.
There is a lot of good on social media; connecting with friends and family at long distances, growing businesses, sharing ideas and so much more. But with anything good, bad things follow. The ugly turn social media has taken is causing more destruction than ever before. Putting people in mind-boggling paradoxes of feeling worthless among the masses. The obvious cure is to simply spend less time on social media and realize we all struggle with our own battles, and what people reflect on social media is often not the full picture.