Social Media isn’t real life portrayed: It often is just fantasy →

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Social media isn’t portrayed in real life; it is often just fantasy. Research shows that people had a false sense of belonging and connection that wasn't real-world based. One big reason is that all those "assumed connections" people check in on out of habit several times a day look like they have a perfect life. What seems to be just often isn't real, and if your life isn't perfect, it can be depressing.

Social Media doesn't give you a real sense of the world around you or what other people are. People can be whoever they want to be on those sites. Whatever they do, it can be a staged situation, not a shared life. Our lives can look dull in comparison, leading to a lot of stress and anxiety. Not good things. Other people’s passions can be polarizing.

Depression, in part, is a state of not caring. The world turns "black and cold" all around us when we’re depressed.  Things don't matter. Anxiety may be the other end of this same spectrum. On that side, you care "far too much about everything," and there is no way to accomplish everything you care about. 

Connecting with people can help with either problem. Getting "out of ourselves" helps. People, books, art, poetry, service, ancestors, and music can all help us get out of ourselves. If people are going to pull us out, they need to pull us into the real world, not a made-up fantasy online reality show.

Having said this, I have to acknowledge the real world. I may use these social media sites to offer some very short encouragement and pull people to this site.  I don't think I originated this, so I hope you don't want to hang the messenger.