Our society has made it very easy to keep up with the lives of others. This is especially true when it comes to social media. At the click of our fingertips, we are instantly connected to the world. You have some that can’t go twenty-four hours without any social media. If the question was asked would you rather go without food for a day or social media, I believe some would choose food. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of positivity that can come from social media. It brings awareness to people about social issues and news. It connects people and helps to grow businesses, just to name a few perks. However, this instant access to the lives of those we know and even strangers, can create a distraction and contribute to some feeling inadequate.
On social media, most people are living their best lives. They are posting pictures when they look good and add posts about going on vacation or talking about their latest accomplishments. There is nothing wrong with that. However, some people go overboard and it becomes a constant reaching out for validation and praise. Some are faking it and putting up a front to the world. While for others, it can slowly chip away at their self-esteem. If you are constantly bombarded with how fabulous other people’s lives appear to be, it can be easy to start comparing your life to theirs.
According to an article on The Jed Foundation callled Understanding Social Comparison on Social Media “Negative social comparison or the fear of missing out (FOMO), which is the idea that someone else is having a better time or is more successful than you (only from what you can see of their online lives), can impact our mental health in a variety of ways.” The article goes on to list them as, increased depression, decreased overall well-being, poor body image, and eating disorders.
Social media can be an illusion. No one has a perfect life but it can appear to be that way. There is nothing wrong with using social media to stay connected, the issue is when it starts to have a negative effect on how you feel about yourself. That’s why it’s important to take a break from social media when those moments occur. It allows more time to focus on your own life and the plans God has for you. I have truly learned that God does not operate by anyone’s watch or clock. His timing is his timing. Your path is not going to be the same as the person next to you and theirs is not the same as yours. Allowing yourself to stay in a state of comparison will keep you behind and distracted.
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