It’s no mystery that social media runs the 21st century. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow users to connect with friends and family, keep updated on current events, learn new and interesting facts, share articles and information at blistering speeds, and even play games while on the go. The possibilities are almost endless. Most people use social media—in fact, statista.com estimates that 78% of US citizens had a social media profile, meaning that three out of every four people you meet will have an account on at least one platform. That’s an incredible statistic; social media has become a must-have for the modern American.
However, social media isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Social media users post portions of their lives to a world wide web that everyone can access. Imagine this: you’re a world-famous artist and you want to showcase a painting in an art exhibition. But the exhibition has over 50 million attendees. Would you put just any painting on the wall? If you’re like any artist, you’d only present the best. Social media’s the same way. We, the social media users, post only the best and brightest portions of our lives when we post online.
But something strange happens. We take our pictures, our thoughts, our articulate arguments, and post them online. But we don’t expect others to only post their “best moments”. For some reason, Facebook users like you and I assume that a couple’s lovey-dovey shared Facebook account equates to a happy, fulfilling marriage. We assume the Instagram selfie in front of a Lamborghini means that our friend is financially successful and probably makes a boatload of cash. We read a tweet about a celebrity who’s reading philosophical books and attends Broadway musicals and art museums—they must be cultured. We know that each Instagram is bathed in a filter, every Facebook post can be edited, and every tweet can be deleted. But that doesn’t mean we’ve dropped our double standard.
I want you to do something. I want you to drop your rose-colored glasses. Quit assuming your newsfeed is full of people who are in a perpetual state of blissful happiness. One of my Facebook friends posted a picture of her and her boyfriend with the caption “So in love with this man” heart emojis a mile long—and literally a week later, they weren’t together. I have a friend who just lost a family member to cancer—he just posted a picture on Easter Sunday, saying “So happy and blessed.” I’ve talked to him. He doesn’t feel that way. My girlfriend and I took dozens of pictures before we could settle for a single Instagram post—and I still look like I’m at the 8th grade dance.
People, we’ve got to wake up. Our generation is defined by filters, captions, and dishonesty. Our profiles are full of fake smiles and “perfect” pictures. I’ve been there. I’ve posted things I haven’t felt, I’ve put on a face for the camera, I’ve written things that aren’t close to the truth. Let’s be honest. Life isn’t glamorous, life isn’t fair, and life isn’t always a garden full of rainbows, unicorns, and butterflies. Life hurts. And we should be honest about it. That doesn’t mean we post about how sad we are or try to skirt around the issues—that means we post truth. If there’s something we want to share, go for it! I have a cousin whose daughter’s been suffering from cancer and a growth disorder for a few years now. I read the family’s posts regularly; some are uplifting, and some are even hard to read. But I love hearing how they deal with that pain and suffering all while raising their family. That’s real. That’s authentic.
I have nothing against happy and humorous posts; we should celebrate those moments! There’s nothing more adorable than scrolling past pictures of tiny puppies in teacups or a set of grandparents, surrounded by a smiling family. But remember that it’s not always the whole story.
Remember that every time you read a post, see a picture on Instagram, or read a tweet on Twitter, it’s not always the entire picture. Your friends’ lives aren’t perfect, so don’t expect yours to be. Be proud of who you are and what you have; you have a unique story to share and a unique life to live. And if you do stumble across that honest post, appreciate it. Authenticity is rare
