For some, Facebook has become more than just posting life updates and instead has become selective postings on one’s life. In short, it often is the best of the best of life. Not the reality of life.
So, who cares? What’s the big deal? Well, at times that can create a depressing message in the minds of many, causing people to ponder, “Why does everything go right for that person and not me?” “Why can’t I be that happy. I must be doing something wrong.” “Everyone is having a brilliant time but me.”
What we can’t forget is that Facebook is just a slice of life. Most often people don’t share their troubles on Facebook. They share their successes, their wins, and their fun adventures. That can leave the rest of us onlookers thinking that this is their whole life. All while our whole life is filled with just as many wins, but also has a good handful of challenges too.
The problem is, on Facebook the challenges of others are often unseen. People often don’t post about the promotion they didn’t get, the project that failed, or the relationship that turned sour. With all good intentions, people want to show themselves in the best possible light and celebrate their happiness with their friends. Challenging moments are often more private and for the few, not the masses.
While none of it may be intentional, Facebook posts often have the effect of causing many to become depressed as they scroll through their feed. While we may know this is just a slice of life, that “best” slice of life is right there in our faces. It’s hard to ignore. It’s hard not to believe that this is a big slice of that person’s life. All while we are facing a daunting problem, a challenging task, or have just lost something valuable.
While many of us have learned to simply accept the posts for what they are, many of us have turned to shutting off our Facebook accounts altogether. Or taking a break from it. Social media can easily be all-consuming and perhaps this is the best solution for some. Time back in the day while at the same time not having to deal with the “fantasy” reel one gets when they open Facebook. This may be a one-stop-shop solution.
Others of us have altered their feed to only view posts from a few select friends, eliminating ourselves from being inundated by a long scroll of bliss. Others of us have continued to view the posts, keeping in mind that the posts are often just the best of the best of someone’s life.
There’s no right or wrong in how to handle it but I think it’s important to recognize and bring it out in the open that Facebook and other social media outlets do present a mental health challenge for many. While this posting trend is unlikely to change in the near future, it’s good to know that there are many healthy options for addressing the challenges it can present whether that’s going cold turkey, choosing to view a filtered version of Facebook, or simply accepting these posts for what they are, if that’s a viable solution.
One other option worth mentioning is joining Facebook pages you know will only post uplifting messages. Or, like NeedtoLive, pages that will provide you with interesting, informative messages on a variety of topics that intrigue you. Through utilizing this option, you are proactively making Facebook work best for you.
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