With social media’s popularity soaring at the height of our college years, it’s hard not to wonder if our motives for doing things aren’t only to post an Instagram or Snapchat story. These outlets can be manipulated to project a more “desirable” image of ourselves or, frankly, make our lives seem more interesting than they actually are. So what does that say about our sincerity? Are we only doing things because we think people are watching?
Even outside of social media, I’ve often overheard people say they have motivated themselves to change an apparently crucial characteristic or mannerism because they’re hoping to be noticed. But what merit can such accomplishments hold when they’re founded on superficiality rather than genuine self-interest?
It’s on rare occasion we encounter anyone unabashedly sobbing over someone else’s social media post. For the most part, these posts don’t seem to have such a drastic effect on others, and fortunately so. However, just because such blatant feelings of inferiority or competition are not commonplace does not mean those repercussions are not very much real.
With social media as a medium for self-promotion, accounts are individually manipulated to procure a certain reputation. So how do others’ posts influence our own self-image, and is it inevitable that we compare ourselves to them? Is it petty to get upset over others being good at something we ourselves are not? Of course, but think of the environment we’ve engrossed ourselves in at the University — we’re surrounded by competition. It was hard to get accepted here. It’s difficult to succeed here, and even if you’re succeeding it’s still a strain to differentiate yourself.
You can’t tell me you haven’t thought to yourself at least once, “I’m surrounded by over-achievers.” It’s a part of who we are, and I don’t think competitiveness in its broadest sense is a bad thing. For the most part being so ambitious is what’s gotten us this far — it compels us to thrive.
The danger arises when we allow the success of others to belittle our own self-worth. We seem to think because others can do things — made known to us via social media — we have to be able to do those things as well. If not, we convince ourselves we’re being outshone or surpassed. We’ll see a Facebook post on someone’s athletic feat or run across Instagram pictures we deem “artsy” and feel we have to live in similar ways to keep up.
But if we’re suddenly inspired to act in a manner to parallel someone else, are we honestly being true to who we are? Sure, there are some who view any type of motivation as healthy, regardless of whether it stems from admiring what others do or comes purely from our own interests; however, I don’t think it’s fair to subject our entire lives and the moments which fill it or the style in which we live to resumé-building in which we constantly strive to outcompete.
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