A new social media trend is encouraging people to show off their realness by sharing photos they usually post with “honest notes.” People share what they struggle with about how they perceive themselves online. This is why this is such an important wake-up call:
Global (March 10, 2024) — A new social media trend is adding a dose of reality to a world where people are constantly comparing themselves to the lives of others, and it’s a big wake-up call for anyone who feels left behind or alone in their challenges.
Showing the “highlights” of our lives is a big part of social media’s appeal. We want to inspire each other, share our happy moments and of course the moments when we felt really great about something we experienced. But on a human level, consuming so much information about so many other people at such fast speeds is bound to have adverse effects, especially when those “happy” and “inspiring” moments are staged for likes and views.
The backlash against the crisis of comparison that social media has created among users (especially the more susceptible younger generations) is the cause of many mental health concerns as the ever-damaging experience of “keeping up with the Joneses” has increased to absurd heights .
But the people who are brave enough to share their own, real truths fight back against all the fakeness we face on a daily basis.
A new social media trend aptly named “social media is fake” has emerged mainly on TikTok, where in the background of social media-worthy pictures that people would normally share (or stills at the moment), they add “honest notes” about your own experience.
Dozens of videos start with the intro “social media is fake so here are some real things I struggle with” or “here are some not-so-glamorous things about me” before launching into very human experiences ranging from job insecurity to anxiety about money, feeling behind in life, and other things we don’t always consider when we look at certain types of people and even influencers.
How can sharing struggles be a good thing?
In a world of screens where not much is as it seems, the balance of a little more reality can be a breath of fresh air. Not because we want people to struggle, but to understand that so many experiences are universal and they make us wonderful people.
Someone else feels behind in their career trajectory at the same age you are, even though they seem like they have it all figured out.
Someone else is facing the same money problems as you, even if you’d never guess it from what they post.
Everyone questions their choices, becomes lonely and wonders if they are on the right path.
But a big part of being human is being brave and sometimes being honest is the bravest thing you can do! And sometimes tipping the scales towards a little more reality is the best way to remind others that no matter how we’re perceived (whether online or in real life), we’re all just making this existence up.
