Connected to Everyone, Known by No One

It’s no secret that with the advent and rise of social media apps like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook among others, it has never been easier to be connected with old friends, make new ones, and supposedly, feel less alone.

Then why do we somehow feel more isolated than ever?
Part of why is because social media since its inception has been a bragging contest; people typically only post the “highlight reel” of their life, intentionally leaving out the natural valleys of life, because who wants their friends and loved ones to know about their failures?

After years of this, obviously social media has stressed some people out to the point where it has begun affecting their mental health, outlook on life, stress, anxiety, and “Keeping Up With The Jones” comparisons.

This is by design, no doubt; similarly to how capitalism operates by pitting peers against each other to compete, social media has unfortunately become a similar bragging contest.

The good news is we’ve surpassed the hump; nowadays, since this is so well-known, it’s actually beneficial to share not only your successes, but also your setbacks.

It will be interesting to see where social media goes in the future. The only constant in life is change. Even if social media as it currently is dies out, it will undoubtedly be replaced by another medium that accomplishes the same purpose.

Why? Because the original intended purpose of social media — to connect new and old friends, foster a sense of community, and make people feel less alone — is a fundamental human need. That isn’t going away as long as humans are around.