Social Media – A Reality or Illusion?
Social media creates a picture-perfect image which everyone wants to see. However, the reality is far different from what is being portrayed. Even though we like, share and comment on the photos posted by our friends and colleagues, however from the inside we tend to feel jealous and envious of them.
Author : Prachi Jain
The world of Social Media indeed seems very beautiful when viewed from the outside. A life full of colors, beauty and joy as portrayed through social media is what everyone craves for. However, is this world which is showcased online is actually a reality or just a fantasy?
Earlier, the word “social” would imply going out, meeting and spending time with people. Reuniting with the known and getting to know the unknown would be considered as socializing. However, now the word social is being understood in a completely different context. Posting images with fake filters, sharing stories with attention seeking captions and changing profile pictures just for the sake of showoff and validation is all what socialization has come down to.
Social media creates a picture-perfect image which everyone wants to see. However, the reality is far different from what is being portrayed. Even though we like, share and comment on the photos posted by our friends and colleagues, however from the inside we tend to feel jealous and envious of them. We often start comparing our original lives with their photoshopped images and we feel low and depressed. The grass is always greener on the other side.
This phase leads to the development of Inferiority complex in us where we don’t understand our self-worth and end up falling prey to insecurity and self-doubt. However, we do not realize that everything does not seem as bright and colorful as shown on social media. Everyone posts images of their happy and joyous moments however no one shares pictures of their struggles and troubles because all we appreciate is beauty and glamour. According to a National study, teenagers who increased their use of social media were more likely to develop depression within six months.
Many people post pictures of their Degrees, Fitness Transformation, Promotions etc. but not many share the hardships which they undergo to achieve them.
We have all put a mask on our face where in public we only show that side of ours which everyone wants to see. We pretend to be what we are not because we all have the fear of being judged and criticized. It is indeed very rightly said that “What you see is not real and what is real, never turns into a post”.
If a celeb steps out wearing Ripped Jeans, he/she will be termed stylish, cool and fashionable. But if we do the same then we will receive remarks like “You look like a joker/beggar/clown”.
Everyone appreciates Natural Beauty. Then why do we hesitate to post No Makeup Photos?
Most actresses write quotes about Body Positivity. Then why do Plus Size actresses find it harder to get movie offers than the actresses with a slim and perfect physique?
On one hand we read that “All Skin Colors are Beautiful” and on the other hand we get to see songs like “Chittiyaan Kalaiyan ve meri White Kalaiyan ve” or “Beyonce Sharma Jayegi” clearly showcasing that fair complexioned women are more attractive then dusky and brown women. This clearly shows the double standards and hypocrisy of the people around us.
We tend to blindly follow in the footsteps of the so called “Influencers” a.k.a Celebrities. Not all but some are indeed a bunch of hypocrites. The death of George Floyd in 2020 had led to worldwide protests where many had participated in the “Black Lives Matter” campaign. Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone had been trolled for supporting Black Lives Matter when they themselves had endorsed various Fairness and Beauty Creams in the past.
It is high time that we immediately don’t believe everything which we see and read online. One such incident which arose was the “Baba Ka Dhaba” case where Kanta Prasad (Baba) and his wife’s Dhaba rose to fame when YouTuber Gaurav Wasan had uploaded a video of Baba’s underrated Dhaba and his lip smacking dishes.
However, Baba filed a case against Gaurav for allegedly misappropriating funds raised for his Dhaba. As this incident went viral on social media, many YouTube and Instagram influencers came out in support of Baba and started accusing and blaming Wasan for his misdeeds. But later as the news spread that Baba apologized to Wasan for his baseless accusations then everyone started appreciating Gaurav for his sympathy and altruism and passed disgraceful comments on Baba. Such incidents clearly show the hypocrisy of such renowned celebrities.
The very unexpected and shocking demise of former Bollywood Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was an example of how there are always 2 sides of a coin. What appears to be bright and beautiful on one side need not be the same on the other side.
Through such cases it clearly becomes visible how important it has become in today’s world to not believe everything which we see or hear. It is very necessary that we don’t compare our real lives with the online images posted by our friends, relatives or celebrities. We need to stop being insecure about ourselves. We feel depressed when we see images of people laughing or enjoying themselves. We start feeling inferior when we see snaps of someone more beautiful or handsome than us. Whenever we see someone accomplishing more than us, we automatically start doubting our capabilities.
What we all need to realize is that when each one of us have different names then how can we expect each one of us to have the same life as the other. Instead of trying to become like someone else, we should try to become a better version of our own selves.
It is high time that we realize that Social Media is only an illusion of happiness and joy and not an actual reality. Had people actually been this happy and satisfied with their lives then words like “depression” and “suicide” wouldn’t have even existed in the dictionary. Stop wishing and craving for the fake and illusionistic Social Media life. True happiness is not just about getting likes and comments on our photos. The day we accept our flaws and be satisfied and proud of our own selves will be the day when we will be truly happy.
It cannot be denied that Social Media definitely has its own merits as well. Especially during these times of the Covid Pandemic, it has played a great role in keeping us in touch with our loved ones. However, it is also important to keep in mind to not get wrongly influenced by hypocrites and fake influencers on social platforms. A perfect balance needs to be maintained between Fantasy (Social Media) and Reality for living peacefully.
“LIVE LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT TO LIVE AND NOT THE WAY OTHERS LIVE. CREATE YOUR OWN IDENTITY AND BE UNIQUE.”
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