The Cancer Called Social Media

#10 - Camp Don’t Kill Yourself

You open up your eyes. You don’t open up the blinds, you don’t open up a book, nor open up a conversation. You open up a screen.

Pages full of voluptuous perfection, beautiful people smiling, extraordinary landscapes and luxurious hotel rooms. You could lose a pound or two, you are definitely not smiling, the streets look grey from your shabby bed room. And as you read another paraphrased quote and listen to melodramatic music playing in the background, you wonder why you’re feeling miserable.

Comparing everything you see makes you perpetually unhappy, considering others’ highlights to be their average day. Forgetting the cameras, lighting, makeup, numerous failed attempts and the time taken leading to that one perfect shot.

Your life might be a mundane 9 to 5, or even spent on the couch. Yet you focus on the gorgeous woman sitting comfortably in that Ferrari’s passengers seat, going from beach club to fancy restaurant, accompanied by a Rolex wearing wrist. Leaving you with a bruised ego and a fractured self image.

Turn off all the noise for a second. The digital world will keep spinning without you watching. Used incorrectly, social media will turn you antisocial, focused on media. Do yourself a favour and don’t use it as a standard to measure your quality of life.

There’s no judge, no court, and no-one keeping score. Remember that the desire to feel special and unique is what makes us all the same. At 3 a.m. at night, alone in bed, with eyes wide open, we are not that different.

Let that knowledge prevent you from judging others too harshly. Let it make you understand that behind the facade, our searches and hunkering aren’t all that distinct.

Looking good on camera doesn’t equal being good in life. Values can’t be bought and aren’t flaunted for the world to admire and confirm.

Let that sink in. Because doing good and chasing goals will forever be more fulfilling than chasing this Fata Morgana in a fictive world.

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I wrote a novel! It’s available at: Amazon (Headfirst - Vic Koopmans)

Picture: Fauxels