The new iPhone 16 has just been released, not that anyone really cares. No one needs the newest iPhone, some may want it, but no one needs one. Irresponsible consumption, pressure to keep up with relentless technological change and increasing disconnect from the real world – who are we without our phones.
With the invention of the iPhone, Apple revolutionised not only the smartphone industry but the way we interact with one another. We now live through a constructed online persona, validated through online interactions. What happened to taking pictures for the sake of capturing a memory? What happened to catching up with each other’s lives in person? We now live to fulfil an online version of ourselves.
Carefully curating an artificial version of ourselves, we succumb to social pressure and surrender authenticity. I invest time into how I am perceived online because I care. I care, too much, about what people think, and, while I am investing my emotions into others, this only contributes to me losing sight of who I am IRL.
Instagram is awful for this. Our followers consume our lives, rather than genuinely engaging in them. We view each other’s stories, comment on each other’s posts and call this social interaction. We chase this surface-level satisfaction, which pulls us deeper into digital dependence and craving for validation.
Credit: Unsplash/ Solen Feyissa.
But recall the last time you saw your best friends in person, the last time you hugged your family, or shared any special moment with a loved one. The euphoria and genuine emotional fulfilment from these interactions can never compare to anything online. It’s not that social media has replaced physical interaction, but sometimes it can be over-relied upon and misused. So, remember that you are a whole lot more than your Instagram profile, how many followers you have, or whether some stranger has followed you back.
TikTok is the same, how can an app be so fun yet make me so miserable? It has the capacity to inspire me to cook fun new recipes, read new books, or drunkenly learn dances with my friends. But also, never has comparison been easier. Whether it be my physical appearance, personality, or any aspect of my life that I can find to scrutinise, my self-esteem is constantly at the mercy of my For You Page.
It’s a difficult habit to break, but being conscious of the type of people you watch and reminding yourself of your own passions and values – those that prevail beyond your phone screen – helps to lessen these feelings.
Set screen time limits, spend more time IRL and take a break from social media. Remember what your true interests are and live in the real world. Post because you want to, take pictures because you want to and live for yourself and no one else. Don’t let meaningless online interactions abstract genuine experiences. It’s very easy to lose sight of who you are when bombarded with everyone else’s lives.
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