In a world where technology and social media offer people the opportunity to create and shape their online personas, it is all too easy to create false realities. When our lives take place in the digital realm, the chances of our true identities being revealed are slim, and it’s easy to craft a world we want others to see. We use technology and social media to bend the truth and present ourselves in a way that suits our desired perception.
The phenomenon of creating false realities is particularly apparent on social media sites such as Instagram, where individuals can present only the finest aspects of their lives. Scientists have even gone as far as to term this behavior “The Instagram Paradox”, because, despite knowing that what we are seeing is often not real, we still feel an almost irresistible urge to compare our own lives to what we see on social media. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and resentment, as well as distorted perceptions of reality. We may start to believe that our own lives don’t measure up to the glossy images and curated lifestyles of our peers.
This can be damaging not only in an emotional sense, but also financially. The pressure to keep up with online trends can lead to overspending as people strive to buy the latest fashionable items, or even the latest tech gadgets. On the other hand, it can lead to under-spending, as people scramble to hide the fact that they are unable to afford the newest items on the market.
It’s important to remember that false realities on the internet are just that—false. We need to be aware of this when consuming media and engaging on social media platforms. Taking a step back and questioning why we use social media and how it affects our lives can be beneficial, as can refuting common misconceptions and generalizations that appear online. Discussions about the use of technology and the effect it has on people’s understanding of reality should become more frequent, and any false information should be challenged.
Gone are the days in which our relationships were mutually exclusive to our immediate circles—our social circles now include strangers from all over the world. These people have the ability to shape our perceptions of reality, whether it be positive or negative. While it’s important to stay informed and be open to new perspectives, it’s also important to question the reliability of what information we consume online. Drawing our own informed conclusions will allow us to filter out information that creates false realities and make more accurate judgements.
Ultimately, it is essential to be mindful of the false realities we encounter online, and to be sure that our own understanding of reality is based on facts, not fiction. Through educating ourselves and being aware of the potential risks of technological and social media use, we can reduce the chances of our reality being distorted.