We all watch and are constantly being watched in media. We form our own identities, our own personas, having as a guiding principle the opinion, the values, the (gossiping) interests of others.” –Nicos Hadjicost
When you’re obsessed with social media and keeping it updated, there is a possibility of losing touch with the actual world around you because the fine line between online and reality becomes so faint. We spent so much time cultivating appearances and relationships online that we allow them to influence the way in which we present ourselves. Together, we all influence one another to create this online universe where everything so perfect when in reality it’s oh so different. Sadly, we have become a culture in which users are obsessed with presenting a curated image in which we are showing friends or the public a happier or more accomplished version of ourselves. From updating Facebook statuses to posting Snapchats with the newest filters, social media has, in fact, made us all such anti-social beings. The gap between reality and the online version of ourselves can be striking, and troubling. On social media, we’re looking at idealized versions of our friends’ lives which leave us feeling more unattractive, less secure about ourselves, and generally, more unhappy with our own lives. It’s only natural to feel the green-eyed monster emerging when you see a post from a “friend” revealing how successful they have become and you can’t even phone the doctors to make an appointment without help from your mom. But how do we to know that our online “friends” are keeping up accurate and true appearances of themselves?
It’s simple, we don’t. Anyone can create an online perception which is completely distorted to adapt to what society deems acceptable and attractive.
To explain it simply, there are two versions of yourself. There is your “real self” which includes your attributes, your characteristics, and your personality. Then there is your “ideal self” which is what you feel you should be with thanks to societal and environmental influences. There are so many of us who are driven by competition, achievement, and status that we allow our online portfolios to not reflect who we are accurate. It’s very easy for certain individuals to get completely absorbed in a virtual world because they prefer it better to their own and this issue is forever growing as social media broadens and evolves.
So what can we do about it? Well, that’s simple, just enjoy social media! Take for granted how wonderful the technology is but not forgetting everyone has their own online perception. Make sure that you’re always reminding yourself of your “real self” because that is truly the best version who you should reflect online.
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