Instagram. Twitter. Snapchat. These are most likely some of the three most-used apps on a teenager/young adult's phone. In this digital age, it is practically impossible to lose contact with someone, unless it is voluntary. People have become used to documenting milestones — or little unimportant events — of their lives. Social media is also used as a creative outlet for many, as it is one of the easiest communicating and broadcasting networks out there. The concept of social media, if used correctly, is a great one, if you ask me. However, trusting that such a powerful tool would be used effectively by all is mere fantasy.
Social media has enabled the creation of a parallel universe for many. If we were to look at numbers, the successful accounts have a similar type of feed: multiple travel destinations, great food places, expensive clothes, etc. It's easy to get lost in this parallel world that makes it seem that in order for your life to be considered a good one, you must meet certain guidelines. As a result, a lot of people's aesthetics may seem to be the same; authenticity is lost when social media dictates a type of lifestyle.
A lot of us want to believe that we are not easily influenced and that we have a set idea for what we want in our lives, but we should take in consideration that constant exposure to these images may at some point affect us — in minor or major ways. Constantly seeing a certain type of body or following people that have an expensive lifestyle while you may not be to afford it at the moment can make you self-conscious. It has contributed to people's depression or developed anxiety in others.
It's common for people to take breaks of social media because they get sucked in too deep and lose a sense of reality and get sidetracked from their personal goals. Some people tend to forget that social media is not real life, that people show what they want you to see. You never know what someone is going through behind closed doors or what they are doing in order to be able to afford certain things. If you follow accounts that set unrealistic expectations or affect your mental health negatively, you are setting yourself up for misery. Being able to not compare yourself to anyone is a skill that you have to develop if you decide to stay on social media. Use social media as an asset; don't let it be a catalyst to your unhappiness.
