Social Media and The Three P’s: Play, Pretend, Plight

Human minds are very complex and fascinating at the same time. Our perceptions and mindsets are the reflection of what we have been injected with: we believe what we see. In terms of social media, we observe, look and consume whatever is fed to us by bloggers, influencers, actors, musicians, artists - "the perfect life". People stand in front of green screens, which are further made, modified, and altered to depict the happy life. People: highly photogenic, indeed, a good trait, with filters applied, makeup and/or aesthetic surgeries. They take a picture, only to tell most of us that is what a flawless life looks like. The problem lies not with the sellers; that's how they earn, and that's basically how their circle of life works - basic economics. The problem is more with the consumers, who are unable to digest whatever is being fed and served to them. 

There is a false glory and pretense in the "social media", and people eventually get stressed, when they compare their life or lifestyles with the "sellers". Point to ponder is why a comparison? - A matter of individuality, and the peoples’ (the consumer's) upbringing. Matter is more circumstantial, and eventual. We seek glory, we seek evolution, we, the consumers want to get better and so, we attract what we cannot get, we feel good when we see someone doing what “we” want, and we could also get jealous of it. We channelize our feelings through different mediums, by watching movies, listening to music, or passively/actively expressing ourselves.

The matter of wants and needs, 'needs' to be prioritized and addressed. The whole social media lifestyle, "the search for happiness" is a chain reaction, where everyone wants to look “happy”, “attractive”, and “wanted”, by flexing and acting that we are totally okay. The whole trickle-down effect starts at the top, by someone really famous, and then, goes down to the bottom, to nobodies like me, or you, or us - the consumer. Is there a need to be happy? Or do we want happiness? Anything forced, could have dire consequences. 

For instance, if I were to upload a picture, I have to be conscious about my background, balanced lighting, a happy smiling face, with diffused eyes. And then, I would seek likes and comments by people I know. And if the outcomes were unforeseen- below my expectations- I may get paranoid resulting in a substantial impact on my 'real-life' surroundings and people. Perfect life can’t be achieved, if my intent is to look and act happy, on social media, while on the contrary, in real life, I am not happy. That's how false glory works, happiness cannot be forced, we the consumers, should be aware of the ostentatious and delusional cycle of the new media platforms. The whole social media ``circus" was designed: intentionally or unintentionally, So, we the consumers, should be aware of the ostentatious and delusional cycle of the social media platforms.