Lying on the beach during spring break. Scroll. Won a $1,000 scholarship. Scroll. Achieved a 4.0 GPA. Scroll. Digital camera photos from last night’s party.
Everyone always showcases the best version of themselves online, even when it may not display the whole picture. That concept is described as “the highlight reel”. It feels impossible not to fall into the trap of comparison when all we see are the good things people share about their lives.
What is the highlight reel?
Instagram feeds typically feature people’s proudest moments, biggest accomplishments, and most impressive milestones. You will rarely look at someone’s Instagram and see pictures of them crying or of vulnerable moments when they have failed. This illusion of a flawless life is called “the highlight reel”. Sharing only the best parts of your life isn’t necessarily a flaw; however, it is important to understand that others may be doing the same.
The comparison we face isn’t just from people’s beautiful, perfect lives; much of it comes from the constant societal pressure to look and behave a certain way. Many celebrities and even ordinary people use filters, editing and Botox to make their photos appear flawless. While I am not against Botox or other treatments that people may use to help with their confidence and self-empowerment, it can sometimes trigger others to feel as though they should look a different way to fit into the constantly shifting standard of beauty. There are countless filters and editing that go into photos and videos that you would never even assume are there, which is what helps create this perfect illusion on your feed.
Many people start their day by scrolling through their phone, and they end it the same way. Doomscrolling steals hours from our sleep, increases stress and anxiety — especially when we are exposed to terrifying news stories — and is the ultimate enemy of productivity. I’m sure that many of us can agree that doomscrolling through social media before bed or in the morning makes us feel a lot worse than we did before we started the vicious cycle.
Combating comparison on social media:
- Don’t be afraid to unfollow: For some reason, we are scared to unfollow and unsubscribe from people who make us feel negatively about ourselves. While it is uncomfortable, it is sometimes a necessary step toward ending the cycle of constant comparison. If someone’s content makes you feel upset or insecure, it is a good idea to unfollow them or unsubscribe, whether it is someone you know in real life or just a random influencer you chose to follow one day. Also, nobody gets a notification if they lose a follower, so they probably won’t even realize someone unfollowed them.
- Spend time offline: Get off your phone! Set screen time limits, spend time outside, pick up new hobbies, read a book. Even watching the actual TV before bed is more relaxing than doomscrolling on your phone.
- Hang out with people who boost your confidence: Spending time with real people in the real world is so rejuvenating. I love going for lunch with my friends or running errands with my mom. When we look up from our phones, we realize there is so much more to the world than the millions of people sharing their lives through photos and 10-second videos.
Whenever people talk about comparison on social media or say “It’s all fake, don’t compare yourself to it” it is still sometimes difficult to navigate those negative feelings even when you understand what is behind them. Our brains aren’t meant to consume so much content all the time; it is what leads to that sluggish, zombie feeling after we scroll for hours. The bottom line is that social media isn’t bad, and the negative effects doesn’t mean we need to get rid of it for good. It is important to find balance and understand what’s real and what’s not. I personally love sharing photos on social media, and I think that there is so much positivity in taking cute photos with friends. In moderation, social media is a fun, exciting way to create community and share memories with friends.
Thank you so much for reading today’s post! Please let me know in the comments if you enjoyed it, and feel free to leave suggestions for what kind of posts you would like to see next!
