I mentioned to you earlier that this journey started as a need to focus more on myself, and, while trying to figure out tasks that would help me with the process i analyzed my relationship with social medias, Instagram, in particular.
I noticed that, yes of course I like posting on Instagram, I like taking pictures that go well with my profile and all that, but actually, do you think I go through all that hurdle only because I enjoy it? No.. not really.
I did it for the approval that the liking gesture of others provoked, I did it so that the people I know knew that I had an active and happy life (while it actually wasn’t).
Every time I posted something, wether it was on my story or on my feed, I thought about the reactions that others would have had after seeing it.
What is the point of creating a scene, of making up a fake reality, only to please others? Only to change or maintain the opinion that others have of you?
Whenever someone started following me I would go over my feed and delete whatever I thought it would made me look like something I didn’t like.
You might now realize that it is not an healthy habit. I didn’t.
Or, I deep down knew that THAT wasn’t the best way in which my time was being used, however I never analyzed the motive behind it.
Never.
Until yesterday, when I had a realization:
Everything I was doing, the way I had acted for my entire life, had been in function of OTHERS’ OPINIONS. Not of my interests (at least not fully). Not of my preferences. Not of my emotions.
It might seem a little drastic right now for me to say so, what I mean is that, I never ever took a decision without it being influenced by others’ opinions, or worse, of my perception of what they would be.
Adding to this immoral side of the issue that I have discovered on social medias (my biggest addiction was Instagram, therefore I am mostly addressing to it, but i feel like this article applies to all sorts), there is also a practical downside, the time lost on it, huge amounts of time that could be used to do either productive things, or absolutely nothing.
Boredom is in fact completely gone, our generation does not know what boredom is, we never experienced it.
Not only it improves mental health (Wojtowicz, et al., 2020) but also increases creativity, improves your mood and work performance.
So far, I haven’t gone through many bright sides of Instagram in particular, that is because, other than outsourcing creativity (which is however cut by the lack of boredom) I don’t see any.
I feel like the worst part of this issue, related to social media, is that up until the point in which you take a break from them, you do not realize the unhealthiness of the whole habit.
You are only seeking the instant gratitude likes and views provoke.
You compare your REAL self with the FICTION you see of others, and try to reach higher standards that might even not exist.
A perfect body, A solid group of friends, Perfect skins, Perfect hair, Constant good moods.Only the word “share” needs attention, what is that you want to share with people you don’t even talk to, what is the goal of the actions you undertake, what do you want them to think of you while you share an iper-selected chunk of your life with them.
With that said, I am going to leave you some space to reflect with yourself.
I would love to hear feedbacks from you, your thoughts on the matter, the decisions (if any) you take after having reflected with me.
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