Why You Should Stop Comparing Yourself To People On Social Media

Whether you’re a casual stroller of Instagram or an avid user of social media, there’s no denying that social media is a normal part of all of our lives. 

Social media can be a double edged sword; it helps us stay connected to family and friends, but it also exposes us to so much toxicity and ingenuity. What we see on social media is a snapshot of reality, often curated in a way to only allow us to see a certain facet of someone’s life to varying degrees. 

That being said, it can be really hard not to compare yourself to people on social media, from our peers to influencers and social media stars. We’re all guilty of it. It can make social media a really dangerous and isolating place, when really, it’s meant to be fun and interactive. 

So here are a few things to keep in mind about what you see on social media in those moments where you feel yourself comparing your life, your looks, or your activity on social media to others. 

Most Of It Isn’t Real

There are so many tricks used on social media, especially when it comes to how one can manipulate their appearance online, that most of it just isn’t real anymore. There’s Photoshop and Facetune of course, but there’s also special ways of posing, camera angles, ways to place your clothing, filters, and lighting, just to name a few things. 

All you have to do is quickly scroll through body positive Instagram to see a lot of these tricks exposed. So while you might pause and look at someone’s bikini shot and think “Why can’t my body look like that?” just remember – there’s a good chance their body doesn’t even look like that. While a picture can be worth 1000 words, a picture can also hide a lot of things. 

Most Of It Isn’t Candid

There’s a lot more work than you might realize that goes into “candid photos.” You know those photos of people looking flawless and perfect in everyday scenarios, with super clean homes or beautiful backdrops? It’s hard not to get envious when it seems like all of these people wake up looking so beautiful in the morning, or people just look so gorgeous no matter what they do. 

The reality is, most of these photos are staged, and people are taking time to make sure everything looks perfect and is in its place in the background, and they’re taking multiple photos before getting that “candid” shot that they choose to upload. Once again, most of it isn’t real. 

It’s An Influencer’s Job To Sell You Their “Image”

People who make money off of being on social media … well, they’re being paid for what you’re seeing on social media. That means they’re going to invest their time, money, and efforts into presenting whatever they have to to convince you that what they’re promoting is something you need. They have to sell you this certain lifestyle and certain look to keep their brand lucrative. 

While more and more of us are appreciating authenticity and would rather support influencers who are less fake, there’s no denying that social media marketing that skews on the side of being deceptive still works. There’s a shift that needs to be made in our culture and it’ll take some time, but it starts with us, and our need to stop comparing ourselves and see through the smokescreen of social media. 

Do you struggle with comparing yourself to people on social media, or do you find yourself always being skeptical of what you see? Let us know in the comments below!

Let’s encourage a community of self love and honesty on social media – follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram so we can all promote positivity together. 

Until next time, 

Alicia

*Feature Image via Canva