The False Reality of Social Media
I have this friend who loves to post pictures of just about anything on social media--especially her kids. And I have to admit, it’s a little irritating. Her kids are always perfect. Perfect behavior, perfect smiles, perfect clothes, perfect hair, everything just so darn perfect. It drives me crazy. Not because her kids are perfect, but because my kids are nowhere near that. I’m lucky if I can get them to stand next to each other for more than seven seconds.
So out of sheer curiosity, I decided to ask the question that no one is supposed to ask. I asked, “how many pictures does it really take to get the one you post on social media?” Then the truth came out. “Dozens,” she said. Not only does it take countless pictures to get one worthy of posting, but she also has to bribe, yell, coerce, threaten, and endlessly plead to get the pictures she wants.
I knew it! Social media is not reality. But wait, we already knew that. But then why do we so needlessly get sucked into believing people are posting accurate representations of their lives? We tell ourselves that what we are seeing is not reality, but there is still this tiny voice in the back of our minds trying to convince us otherwise. And then we go and listen to it.
Why?
Because it never goes away. We willingly buy a device we will get addicted to, add some apps that make it worse, and carry it with us all day, every day. Throughout history, we have always compared ourselves to others. But there was an escape. You could go home, be alone or with family, and escape the pressure and stress of comparison. You got a nightly reprieve. If you have a smartphone, that’s no longer the case. You are trapped.
There is hope. And it’s relatively simple. You need to find the reprieve--the break from the lure of a false reality. First, be totally honest with yourself. Why are you on social media anyway? Maybe you love catching up with friends. Or perhaps it’s for work. Heck, it’s even possible you haven’t the first clue why you’re on social media--you just are. But it starts with being honest.
Second, take a break. You need to do a kind of fast. Whether it’s a few hours, days, or even weeks away from social. It will help you get back to reality. However, you will likely need to start slow. Start with one day--24 hours off the grid. You will feel surprisingly refreshed and free. Then work your way up to a regular regiment of once a week or once every couple of weeks.
Finally, be sure to constantly remind yourself of the difference between the physical reality that you and I live and work in and the distorted digital reality that lives inside our pockets.
Challenges/Points:
Spoiler alert: Social media does always give us an accurate reflection of reality.
Putting social media in its proper perspective starts with being honest about why we are on it in the first place.
The only real way of getting back to reality is to take regular breaks from social media. So pick one day this week to take that much needed break.
Questions:
When you look at others’ posts on social media, what is your perception of them? Why?
How does what you see impact your perception of self?
Once you have taken that break, how do you feel now?
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