So something over the past few months that I have felt is this big misconception with social media. I have felt when reading other people's posts that social media and influencers have made this conception about things. In the past, I felt it towards just body image but as social media grows and more influencers become known, it becomes easy to compare your own life to theirs, especially when you are in the same age group. However, there are some important things to try and remember when comparing yourself to their lives.
1. They post what they want you to see. They will not often post their challenges but their success and some of them will want to make you feel empowered but it doesn't always. If they want you to know about their relationship they will, if they want you to know about their new house, they will post it. Not everything they post is their actual life but a snapshot of some things in their life, that fit their brand.
2. Some of those influencers especially the ones in their 20s have been working on social media since they were teens. They started building their life in their teens and it was more because they love content creation. They find something they enjoy and those who enjoy it will find they have degrees or certificates up their sleeve in some sort content content-creating format. They have worked hard to get there, they might have just started a lot earlier than the rest of us.
3. They have an image to uphold. As mentioned they need to fit a brand they created, it can become really difficult to change that. But while they live their lives even the silliest ones still have like a professional feeling and mature feeling to them. This is because they are aware of what their acts can do.
4. For those who feel like they want to be with someone or struggling with their relationship again influencers only show you what they want you to see. Some influencers have been in relationships before they started social media, they don't post their problems and issues and also they have a wider community of people to meet with because of networking. Yes this can make the perceptions of a healthy relationship difficult but they are not going to show all their side of things and show the happiness because they do still want privacy and may not talk about their struggles to keep privacy between them and their partner.
I would also like to add that for me at least I see a lot of American influencers, their lifestyle is completely different here in Australia. Their opportunities and access are different, and the way they get brought up is different. So many things are different to Australia even when they are the same.
Here are some things I do to try and remind myself when I feel this way.
- I remind myself my life is at my own pace, I achieve things at my own pace and grow.
- I can change and adjust without having to think of anyone else. If an influencer wants to slightly change their content or show a different version of themselves, they have to strategically plan it and be prepared for potential implications, while maybe not so much as follower loss but brands they work with and love might leave. Where we don't have to worry about any of that when we grow and change.
- Put my phone away. I have a set of rules that I follow, one day a week I am not allowed on TikTok, Instagram reels or shorts at all. First thing in the morning no social media, not until after 8 am (I tend to get up between 6-7:30 every day) this way it's not the first thing I look at. And if it's too much just delete the app for 12-24 hours, and then I can focus on the other parts of my life but also get my algorithm to a place where I am happy again.
As a reminder social media isn't all that bad, it can be great to connect with new people, learn new ideas and find like-minded people. It can become quickly overwhelming and harmful.
I would also like to share some of my favourite influencers, Bridey Drake is an Australian TikToker with her own PJ business, I think she is wonderful and authentic and I never felt I had to compare myself to her. Linda Sun is a Canadian influencer, so she more health and lifestyle, however, some of her posts from over a year ago, helped with its okay to not have it all figured out. I would highly recommend watching those, she switched degrees and dropped out of uni it can help with being like oh it's okay to do that.
I hope this helps someone and let me know if you have any other tips or misconceptions I missed or favourite influencers for me and others to check out.
