Social Media Promotes an Unrealistic Lifestyle

Introduction

Social media is bad. The way people communicate is always progressing, and somehow we continue to find new ways to do so, without actually speaking to each other. It started with postcrossing, then came cellphones heavy as bricks, suddenly the internet was a thing and communicating through text got easier. Today, when almost all people have access to the internet, we use social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat to communicate, but is social media really that social? In fact, social media promotes an unrealistic lifestyle that can often disconnect us from genuine interactions.

Social Media Addiction and Its Effects

Social media is addictive and changes who we are. With social media platforms constantly growing in popularity, some argue that the real life conversations are going extinct. According to Sherry Turkle, a professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, 2019), we can end up hiding from each other, even as we're all constantly connected to each other. We text and check social media as often as possible, letting our cellphones get in between us and our everyday lives. Without even recognizing it, we are distancing ourselves from our surroundings, putting our attention wherever we want it to be, only to constantly keep entertained.

When we’re constantly entertained and able to choose where to put our attention, we appear bored, ignorant and disrespectful. Although I would argue that's not the case, social media is highly addictive and is designed to work similar to crack. When you disclose information about yourself, as you do on social media, it strongly activates the part of your brain associated with dopamine, which is the pleasure center. The pleasurable effect is multiplied as others interact with what you’ve posted. For every notification you recive, the dopamine hits keep coming. Even during important events such as job meetings, your brain which is used to dopamine hits, knows that the notification could be someone engaged in what you've posted and therefore a dopamine kick, and causes you to pick up your phone.

Unrealistic Life on Social Media

Social media contributes to unrealistic ideals and makes us insecure. I believe that social media breeds insecurity. It creates a false reality and unachievable ideals. Whether it is body image issues, wealth image issues or any other issues you might have, they are all being fed by social media. Every photo on social media is carefully edited and filtered to look the most aesthetically pleasing as possible, setting unachievable standards of how you should look, dress and act. Not only are these impossible standards set by models and celebrities, they are also set by your friends. On social media people tend to display only the best moments and highlights of their lives, counseling the bad parts, the struggles and the everyday life. According to Rae Jacobson, a writer and specialist in teens behavior online, at the Child Mind Institute (CMI, 2019), those images cause anxiety and lead to depression, especially among young adults and teens. 

Conclusion

In navigating this digital landscape, it's imperative to acknowledge both the benefits and drawbacks of social media. While it undoubtedly offers avenues for connection and expression, it also demands self-awareness and restraint. We must consciously find a balance between our online interactions and our offline lives, ensuring that the former doesn't overshadow the latter. By promoting a healthier relationship with social media, one that fosters genuine connection and self-acceptance, we can harness its potential while safeguarding our well-being and sense of reality.

References

1. Turkle, Sherry. 'Connected, but Alone?' TED Talk, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2019.
2. Jacobson, Rae. 'The Effect of Social Media on Teenagers' Mental Health.' Child Mind Institute, 2019