REAL LIFE VS SOCIAL MEDIA

Dear Reader, writing this article meant a lot to me, and your support would mean even more. Medium allows you to give up to 50 claps for an article, so if this resonated with you, please don’t hesitate to give it all 50. Thank you so much for being here and for cheering me on!

I once saw a tweet that said, "Imagine you wake up one day and all social media apps disappear. Who are you outside of this space?"

I paused.

Who am I outside social media? Who am I when no one is watching, liking, or commenting?

For many of us, social media is more than just an app. It’s a lifestyle, a second home, a place where we seek validation, friendships, love, and even purpose.

We check our notifications first thing in the morning and last thing at night. We measure our happiness by engagement, our relevance by follower count, and our worth by how many people react to our posts.

But what happens when the screen goes off?

What happens when the likes aren’t enough?

You see, real life happens when you put your phone down. The laughter you share with your siblings, the deep conversations with friends, the sun on your skin during a morning jog, the smell of your mum’s cooking, these are the things that truly matter.

100,000 likes will not be enough if you don’t like yourself. A million followers won’t fill the void if you feel empty inside.

You can post the happiest pictures, use the best filters, and caption it all with motivational quotes, but if you don’t truly feel joy within, it’s all a performance.

Social media is a highlight reel. People show you what they want you to see.

That influencer posting luxury vacations may be drowning in debt.

That couple sharing ‘couple goals’ pictures may not have spoken to each other in days.

The person who always seems happy may be battling deep sadness.

Comparison is a thief, and social media is its playground.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the illusion. The pressure to maintain an online image can be overwhelming. You feel like you have to keep up, to stay relevant, to impress strangers who don’t even know your real struggles.

And in the process, you may forget the real you, the version that doesn’t need filters, validation, or applause.

We need to redefine our sense of self-worth. Your value is not determined by how many people follow you but by the impact you make in real life.

Have you been a good friend?

Have you helped someone without expecting anything in return?

Have you taken care of your mental and emotional well-being?

These things matter more than any online persona.

Take a break when you need to.

Detox from social media.

Go for a walk without your phone.

Spend time with loved ones without feeling the need to document every moment.

Start a hobby that doesn’t require an audience. Read books, travel, learn new skills, do things that enrich your soul beyond the screen.

So, this is your reminder to live.

Go outside.

Feel the breeze.

Laugh without recording it.

Love people genuinely.

Not everything has to be content.

Not every moment has to be shared.

You are enough, even when no one is watching.

One day, social media might disappear. Will you still know who you are?