Social Media vs. Reality

On social media, we all portray the perfect life. Going on our dream holidays, always eating out, always having great times with our friends and family. It appears perfect.

However, this is far from the truth. While we present this dream life that everyone idolises and desires for themselves, it doesn't reflect what's truly happening behind the screen and beneath the persona everyone puts on.

Though this persona may boost the person behind the profile's self-esteem, it can make the people on the other side feel worse. It leaves them asking questions like, "Why don't I look like that?" and "Why can't I have experiences like that?"

This can lead them to drown themselves in self-doubt, questioning their own lives and why they can't achieve what they see online. What they often fail to understand is that it's all an act. That's not what their life is truly like behind closed doors. So, the doubt they've instilled in other people's lives is to make themselves feel superior and like they have more than others.

This is why we need to normalise skin that isn't filter-perfect, normalise not going on holiday every year, and normalise that relationships with friends and family might not always be smooth sailing.

This, in turn, will have a positive impact on everyone's health and well-being. The people behind the profiles won't have to feel the constant pressure to put on a front, and those who feel that they don't have the life they see online can find contentment with what they have.

Eloise Turner, Cohort 40. Content Creator Apprentice at Realm Recruit