instagram

you open instagram. one friend's in the maldives, sand white, sea turquoise, legs flawless. another just got promoted, champagne on the table, a motivational caption underneath. another one got married, they're dancing, the dress, the makeup, everything perfect. and you, meanwhile, are at home, slippers on your feet, tea in hand, the evening news on tv. in that moment something happens. a tightness in your stomach. you think you're unhappy. when five minutes ago you were doing just fine. this, right here, is what this app does to you.

social media is a giant stage. everyone's the lead. nobody shows what's behind the curtain. that friend in the maldives is going to be paying off the debt for six months and has no idea. the one who got promoted couldn't sleep that night out of fear of getting fired. that dancing couple had a mother-in-law meltdown a week after the wedding. but you don't see any of that. everyone shares the trailer for their life, while the full movie is always packed with the same boring details.

psychologists call this social comparison theory. you compare yourself against other people's best moments. naturally, you lose. because the material you've got is a real life, while theirs is a filtered, staged, well-lit display window. it's like looking through a bakery window and expecting to feel full. impossible.