SOCIAL MEDIA...THE OBSESSION
People Believe Their Own Lies on Social Media
PAGE 25 | www.blaquelineentertainment.com
Article Credit: elitedaily.com
It’s no secret that many people distort reality when they post content to social media in order to present the best possible image of themselves -- but they may be fooling themselves as well, via a process of false memory formation leading to “digital amnesia,” according to a new study conducted by Pencourage, an anonymous online journal.
Sixty-eight percent of social media users surveyed admit that they “embellish, exaggerate or outright lie when documenting events on social media” in order to make their lives seem more interesting and generally better than they really are, the study found. And half of respondents said they feel sadness, shame, and even paranoia when they are unable to live up to the online image they have created.
Here’s the really bizarre (and scary) part: the lies people tell on social media may make it impossible for them to access their real memories, as they come to believe the version of events they presented online. Indeed, one in ten respondents admitted they were no longer sure what actually happened in events they described on social media, rising to 16% of respondents ages 18-24.
Keep reading, there's more - CLICK HERE
These days, appearances are everything.
People are more concerned with proving to the rest of the world that they’re having the time of their lives than actually enjoying themselves.
The 27 flawless “night out” pictures are more important than the night itself. If a girl purchases a new dress, it’s more likely for a new Facebook profile photo than an actually party.
Not to mention, going out without uploading a new Snapchat story or Instagram picture is inconceivable; without evidence of your escapades, as far as the world is concerned, they didn’t happen.
If you go to a bar, half the people in there will likely be on their phones. If they’re not taking selfies, they’re possibly on Tinder, happily meeting strangers through the Internet while scowling at the real-life ones around them who don’t even think about approaching for a real-life conversation.
As for who you’re actually talking to online, everyone on the Internet is selling you a dream. The thought of uploading a photo that is anything less than perfect is unimaginable, so every picture is taken with precision, the best lighting, best angle and most appealing filter.
Regarding first dates, well, thank God for restaurants with dim lighting. Plus, all that really matters is the hot profile picture he’ll show his friends of the girl he went on a date with, not so much what she actually looked like.
It’s not because his standards are low, but because when you remove the screen, you realize that little imperfections aren’t the end of the world; in fact, they are what make all of us human.
Then, of course, there are the people who have already found someone to love them. These are the ones who are in relationships, offline. For many of these couples, being in love is not enough and a relationship isn’t considered truly successful until it’s on Facebook.
If someone buys you flowers, in exchange, you have to take a picture and upload it. After all, what is the point of being happy if not everyone knows about it?
Don't stop reading, you have to read this stuff, it's so real