Social media is just a highlight reel. I think deep down we all know this, but it’s important to be reminded and therefore more conscious of this fact. I’ve had to remind myself of this a lot especially over the past week and wanted to share a little reminder with you all.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love social media 90% of the time; I aspire for my future career to be in social media marketing and I enjoy creating and sharing content more than almost anything. That being said, I am only a human and I’ve still found myself comparing my life to that of others’ highlight reels.
Think about what I just said… it makes no logical sense. What is seen on Instagram is probably only (or not even) half of the truth of any given situation and almost always only shows the positive aspects of life. There is nothing wrong with this, and I’m absolutely not encouraging anyone to start only posting negativity on their social media. I’m just saying that there is not a single person on this planet that doesn’t use social media as a highlight reel of the best parts of their life on some level.
The moral of the story is that using social media with awareness of the lens through which it’s used (to show the best parts of life) is the healthiest way to use it. It is inevitable, however, to compare yourself no matter how many times you are reminded not to; we’re all human. Just be aware of how social media is making you feel. Don’t be afraid to take a break if you feel it’s necessary. Use it with the intention to spread messages that are for the greater good; be aware that someone else’s highlight reel is not comparable to your entire life. Social media is a powerful tool if you use it with this awareness.