Social Media: Reality or Highlight Reels?
But seriously, where are the low-lights?!
According to Forbes, Americans spent an average of 1300 hours on social media last year, which equals about three and a half hours per day.
All of that time is spent looking at other people living their best lives, or so it seems.
Between celebrities, influencers and all those people we haven’t seen since high school or college, we become engrossed in their highlights and only the highlights. And why would we post anything else?! On the “Girls Gotta Eat” podcast, Matthew Hussey, life coach and dating expert, described social media as “the most real pain you’re not seeing and the most real joy you’re not seeing.”
So why do we spend so much time on social media, knowing we’re not viewing the full picture? Sometimes it’s the draw of mindless scrolling to avoid facing our own realities. But sometimes, it’s not mindless.
Often, we intentionally stare at the continuous feed of engagements, pregnancies, promotions, and vacations. We compare our own lives to the curated versions of others’ that we see on our social media feed. We perseverate on those perfect-seeming relationships or extravagant vacations and wonder, “Why not me?” If social media can be harmful to our mental health and view of ourselves, what was the purpose of all this in the first place?
Social media was first created with the intention of fostering, maintaining, and even growing connections.
It provides us the opportunity to feel close to others who may be physically far away and even people we’ve never actually met. So why is it that the more we scroll, the more disconnected we tend to feel? Brené Brown states that vulnerability is attained during emotional exposure. Vulnerability is a key part of trust and connection, yet it is rarely seen on our feeds. If we are not exposing our emotions (yes, all of them), we don’t really stand a chance of building a genuine connection.
We know that none of this is new or surprising information. We see the carefully-curated highlights, knowing they’re only highlights, yet we still feel emotions such as jealousy, anxiety, sadness, anger, and shame. So why do we continue this way? Should we continue this way? Well, we have choices; using social media does not have to be all or nothing. We can strive to strike a balance between true connection and mindless scrolling if we remain mindful and intentional about the content we are consuming. Just like in all other areas of our lives, boundaries are key. It’s important to know and set limits around the accounts we choose to follow, the amount of time spent scrolling, and how we think and feel when doing so. Being aware of unhelpful thinking patterns and turning down the volume of the constant comparison is key to self-care and creating a healthy relationship with social media.
So, follow your favorite celebrities and find the best baking hacks, and remember to take a break from other people’s highlights once in a while to be able to enjoy your own!
Considering Therapy for Self-Esteem or Therapy for Anxiety in Washington, DC?
The anxiety therapists at our therapy practice in Washington, DC can help you with those sinking feelings of anxiety and self-comparison that inevitably come with social media use. We specialize in supporting 20- and 30-somethings as they navigate the unique and complex transitions experienced by young adults today. Let’s get started with these steps.
Schedule a consultation with us using our contact form.
Meet with one of our skilled therapists.
Stop comparing yourself and live true to the moment!
Other Services at The Sterling Group
The constant pressure to perform on social media can bring up past trauma and current anxiety, and our therapists get that. So, we offer a multitude of services to support you. Our individual services include therapy for self-esteem, support for relationship challenges, and exploring identities as well as executive function support. We also offer couples therapy for those that are looking to grow in their relationships. We would love to chat with you today about the ways we can support your growth at our counseling practice serving the Washington, DC area!