In the age of social media, where carefully managed accounts
and filtered photos are the norm, it's important to think about how these sites
affect our self-esteem and how they encourage us to compare ourselves to
others. Social media has a lot of good things about it, but it can also make
people compare themselves to others and have low self-esteem.
One of the main things that leads to this culture of
comparing is how social media shows an idealized image of real life. Users
often show off their best moments, carefully edited pictures, and highlight
reels of their lives.
Because of this, people may constantly compare their own
lives to the lives of others that seem to be great. This kind of comparison can
lead to feelings of not being good enough, self-doubt, and a skewed view of how
valuable you are.
Also, the "likes" and comments on social media
sites make the attitude of comparing even stronger. A person's fame and
acceptance can be measured by how many likes and fans they have. When people
try to get approval from other people, it can hurt their self-esteem because
they might start to think that their worth depends on how many likes or
comments their posts get.
Also, social media sites often show a narrow view of what is
beautiful and successful. Influencers and famous people with a lot of fans set
trends and build goals that most people can't reach. This can make people feel
bad about their bodies and make them try to meet an unrealistic and often
dangerous standard.
Users can also feel FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) when they see
carefully crafted pictures and highlight reels all the time. People can feel
left out or like they aren't living life to the best when they see other
people's adventures, parties, trips, and social events. This can make it easier
to compare yourself to others and have doubts about yourself.
Even though social media platforms have started to take
steps to deal with these problems, like adding ways to hide likes or giving
resources for mental health support, it is important for users to be aware of
how much time they spend on social media and build healthy habits.
People can keep a fair view of the world if they are
self-aware and know that social media is a controlled version of reality.
Realizing that everyone has their own problems and fears, even if they don't
show it on social media, can make people less likely to compare themselves to
others.
The mindset of comparing can also be fought by creating a
positive environment online through genuine and helpful interactions.
Celebrating the successes of others, showing empathy, and spreading body
positivity can all help make social media a healthy place.
Education and knowing how to use the media are also
important ways to fight the bad effects of social media. People, particularly
young users, can use social media in a healthier and more thoughtful way if
they know how deceptive it can be and how important it is to accept themselves.
