In today's online world, it's tempting to make quick judgments about someone based just on their Instagram posts, Facebook pictures, or other social media accounts. After all, what people share online is like a shined up version of themself. It shows their best moments, happiest travels, and favorite hobbies for everyone to see in the best light.
So if Linda's Instagram shows her posing on sunny beaches and attending European galas every week, you might assume, "Wow her life looks so luxurious and perfect! She must have an amazing carefree life."
But that's not always the full story. Behind the camera lens, every person faces struggles, challenges, pain and hard work completely absent from their profiles. Things like health issues, financial troubles, or relationship problems never make it into social media posts. Those "real" parts of life would kill the exciting vibe folks want their pages to sparkle with.
For example, A jazz musician friend Steve on facebook always posts cool photos from his gigs, surrounded by big smiling crowds. But he never shows the lonely stretches where he can't land work or the unpaid hours spent practicing scales alone at home , he once told me this one when we got talking and I was lamenting about how good they who were abroad were living large.
My travel blogger cousin Uwakmfon fills her feed with dreamy vacation photos posing under palm trees. But not the unsightly portion sizes or queasy stomach from eating street food for weeks to keep costs down abroad.
No one's social media profile can capture a complete picture of their inner world and circumstances. There's always behind-the-scenes grit propelling forward progress that never gets applause or double taps on Instagram before the glamour shots pop up. Applying judgments to others based only on carefully curated feeds ends up extremely limiting and unfair.
When we react to appearances only and base assessments on artificial versions of peoples' realities, it hurts in the long run. First, you might feel resentment, anger, or jealousy over the successes or beauty constantly displayed by acquaintances. Why does Steve always get the prime jazz gigs when you struggle? How can Uwakmfon afford to travel for months while you can barely take a week off work? Social media envy distorts the truth and breeds discontent.
Second, judging peoples' choices based on posts alone often ends up inaccurate. Your friend gushing about her "perfect partner" while on a sponsored trip ignores that they fight constantly in private. A fitness influencer flaunting weight loss omits unhealthy behaviors behind the scenes bringing those results. Appearances spark incorrect conclusions about what someone's full life situation looks like if you lack all the details.
Finally, believing the hype of carefully staged social feeds puts unhealthy pressure on individuals to keep living up to that Instagrammable standard long-term. Just like Steve feels forced to only share the performance highs or Uwakmfon keeps pushing budget travel extremes to impress her audience. Maintaining illusion strains mental health and skews priorities over time.
So next time you feel the urge to judge, criticize, or envy an acquaintance based on their latest glamorous post, stop. Remind yourself, that no highlight reel conveys the full human story unfolding daily off-camera. React with compassion instead, knowing gaps likely exist between their projected life online and reality. Start meaningful conversations to connect beyond surface appearances. And consider carefully if your own curated feed aligns with candid truth before posting flattery that might warp someone else's perception of your daily journey. Because behind each lens, we all long to be known and understood accurately rather than fooling others into judgment by clever illusions alone.
