Although Instagram and Snapchat might make college look like a dream come true, there is definitely more to it than simply partying; without denial, there is a lot of partying in college, but that is definitely not what it's all about. After all, we do come to college to pursue a higher education; to learn, to make new friends, and to embark on the next chapter in our lives. The way we see other people's lives almost always depends solely on the photos they post on social media, which, to say the least, is a completely unfair and bias way of making a judgement. Social media allows us to manipulate our viewers into only seeing what we want them to see - which most of the time, isn't even half of the whole story. Have you ever seen an Instagram picture in the library? Didn't think so.
Instagram: an edited version of every college kid's life. As a senior in high school, I remember looking at the new-college-fresmen's Instagram posts and thinking, "Wow. College really does look incredible." Don't get me wrong - college definitely is incredible, but it is not always "filtered" as it looks in the photos. From trying to adjust to a completely new place, to making new friends, to joining a sorority/fraternity, and to doing well in school, the first few months of college throw a lot on your plate - all of these are just some of the many things that go behind the scenes and never make it to the social media surface.
Snapchat: the easiest way to vicariously live through just about anyone you're friends with. There is nothing quite like sitting at home on a Saturday night and realizing how much you're missing out on (FOMO is very real). You may always see plenty of smiling, happy faces on Snapchat, but have you ever seen stressed out ones? Tired ones? Ones of people who just aren't having their kind of day? Those snapchats, like the Instagram photos, don't quite make an appearance - ever. Someone may look like they're having the time of their life, but believe me, it isn't that way 24/7.
So, next time you're stalking a cool girl's Instagram or watching the Snapchat story of a cool guy, just remember: it isn't always what it seems.
