The hashtag symbol has today become an identity marker for every social media site be it Instagram, Facebook or X.
For our social media posts to go viral, we often search and use the most trending hashtag with a hope that its views goes up to millions and likes up to a few thousand along with hundreds of comments.
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We wake up, check our phones, and start scrolling. Beautiful faces, happy couples, amazing trips, perfect outfits- it all look flawless, but is it real?
In a world where a picture can be perfectly edited in seconds and every post is curated for likes; it’s getting harder to capture the difference between reality and showing off. Social media once a tool for connecting with friends and sharing raw moments, has evolved into a stage for filtered perfection. Behind every post is a choice: to show life as it is, or a we wish it looked.
The Highlight – Reel vs. Real Life
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Snapshot are more than just platforms- they’re performance spaces where people share highlights: vacations, glowing skin, perfect relationships, gym selfies with the most trending or commonly used hashtag. But just like a movie trailer, these moments are carefully chosen, cropped, and often edited to fit in a narrative. What we don’t see are the bad days, the insecurities, or the real-life struggle exist behind the screen.
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Comparing your real life to someone’s social media feed can make you feel like you’re not doing enough or not good enough. This constant comparison to others’ curated lives can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and loneliness. Studies have shown that heavy use o social media can negatively impact mental health, particularly among teens and young adults.
The Illusion of Perfection
Filters can be fun. They smooth our skin, whiten our teeth, and add the perfect glow. But when everyone starts using them, they create a new standard of beauty that’s almost unreachable in real life. The pressure to “look perfect” online becomes an everyday burden.
Even more concerning is the growing trend of people seeking plastic surgery to look more like their filtered selfies. It’s called “Snapchat dysmorphia”, and it’s a real phenomenon.
The Power of being Real
Luckily, a lot of people are starting to fight back. A growing number of users and influencers are choosing to show their true selves. They post raw, unfiltered photos. They talk openly about struggles, mental health, and insecurities. And surprisingly people are responding it positively. Authenticity is becoming the new currency online.
Accounts that show real life, messy rooms, tearful breakdowns, body-positive content are gaining followers. They remind us that it’s okay to be human, to have flaws, and to live a life that’s not always picture-perfect.
Being real is refreshing. It helps others feel less alone and more confident in their own and connect with others.
How to Stay Grounded
- Follow accounts that make you feel good
- Take a break from social media if it starts to affect your mood.
- Don’t compare your real life to someone else’ highlighted reel.
- Be brave enough to be real- it helps others feel real too.
- Remember: likes don’t define your worth.
Final Thought
You don’t need a filter to be worthy. Real life is messy, emotional and imperfect and that’s what makes it beautiful. Social media is just a tiny window, not the full view. So, next time you feel like you’re not enough, take a step back an remember: real life always wins.
Because #RealLife is better than perfect pictures.