All of this begs the question, what are we looking for? Most often, people use these sites to post highlights from life: new babies, new careers, vacations, fun outings, engagements, weddings, new pets. These aspects of life are wonderful, and in many cases, it can be fun to have the opportunity to take a look at the great things that are happening in the lives of people you love. However, do you ever notice any small part of you that is comparing your life, career, relationship, vacations to another? The question of what one is seeking also comes to mind when someone consistently posts selfies online. Are you one of the selfie obsessed? When people are constantly taking pictures of themselves it is easy to assume they are equally as preoccupied with their external appearance. There are many psychological studies currently in the works that are seeking to explore this phenomenon and any link there might be to narcissism, psychopathology and self-objectification. We are all concerned with our appearance to some extent but we have to keep in mind that it is about what is inside that determines who we truly are.
From a psychological standpoint, comparison is a dangerous practice and social media sites make this all too easy. There is research to prove that despite levels of self-esteem, comparing most often results in negative feelings, which can also have an impact on mood! How do we make sure that we don’t fall into this trap? Well read on, it’s all about awareness.
The tricky part is when our use of technology leads our emotions without our awareness. The antidote is actually to increase your awareness about what is going on inside you. If you find yourself passing the time by mindlessly picking up your phone or opening another page on your computer to check social media, take note of how you feel as you scroll through the stories of other people's lives. How does the practice of consistently reading about others impact you? These questions are key to determining the impact on our self-esteem and mood.