Beyond the screen: The hidden truths of our social media lives
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Vijay Garg
Contd from previous issue
By sharing joy, even when it feels out of reach, we try to manifest it. We tell ourselves that happiness is not an illusion—it’s around the corner and within our grasp. We also do it for others. Social media can be a dark and overwhelming place filled with negativity, comparison, and distressing news.
By sharing moments of beauty, love and humour, we offer small doses of positivity to those who might need them.
But herein lies the trap. When we view others’ lives through the glossy lens of social media, we risk falling into the pit of comparison. We measure our own lives against the seemingly perfect lives of others and wonder where we went wrong.
We feel envious, resentful, or inadequate. But this comparison is unfair—because it’s based on incomplete information. What you see on social media is a highlight reel, not a documentary. To compare your behind-the-scenes reality to someone else’s carefully chosen highlights is to set yourself up for needless suffering.
(To be contd)
Contd from previous issue
By sharing joy, even when it feels out of reach, we try to manifest it. We tell ourselves that happiness is not an illusion—it’s around the corner and within our grasp. We also do it for others. Social media can be a dark and overwhelming place filled with negativity, comparison, and distressing news.
By sharing moments of beauty, love and humour, we offer small doses of positivity to those who might need them.
But herein lies the trap. When we view others’ lives through the glossy lens of social media, we risk falling into the pit of comparison. We measure our own lives against the seemingly perfect lives of others and wonder where we went wrong.
We feel envious, resentful, or inadequate. But this comparison is unfair—because it’s based on incomplete information. What you see on social media is a highlight reel, not a documentary. To compare your behind-the-scenes reality to someone else’s carefully chosen highlights is to set yourself up for needless suffering.
(To be contd)