Opinion: Is the Digital World Shaping False Expectations of Life?

Currently, our world is shaped by an unrealistic lifestyle that is created by ourselves. We all post our best moments on social media, but what about those where we are at our lowest? 

Do you actually believe that influencers' lives are as perfect as they seem? Ask yourself, is your life what you post on social media? The answer is no. We are all setting these false expectations that none of us can achieve… Because, how can we achieve something that doesn't exist? 

Take influencers as an example; they always seem perfect, but what we don't see is everything behind the scenes. No one has a perfect marriage, a perfect family, a perfect body–a perfect life. Things that you love in other people's lives are maybe the things they hate the most. You don't know where their money came from, what struggles they faced to get it, or if they actually deserve it. 

Since influencers often receive luxury items through partnerships or collaborations, what we see online doesn't reflect how most of them live. As a result, social media ends up normalizing luxury bags, the latest Apple products, high-end makeup products, and fine jewelry brands–but it's not normal. This not only causes comparison and jealousy but self-esteem problems. For example, the luxury vacation your favorite blogger had may be a partnership, meaning the hotel, airline, or tourism company covered the costs in exchange for promotion on their social media. And where are you in this situation? You are asking yourself: “Why am I not like her?” “How is she so rich?” “I wish I had her body!” “She has a perfect boyfriend!” Once again, the truth is that we wouldn't feel pressured to show this apparently perfect lifestyle if it weren't for the expectations social media puts on us. 

In the end, the effects social media has on us and in our society are visible! It not only shapes false expectations of our lives, but it shapes our reality by influencing our opinions, behaviors, and self-esteem. Although it connects people globally, it also disfigures perceptions and values, causing major concerns. For that reason, it is crucial that influencers use social media nicely and mindfully, being aware of the impact they have in society to minimize more negative results, promoting a realistic and healthy environment.