Life and Society: Unrealistic Expectations in the Age of Instagram

Sometimes it seems like a wonder how much the world — and particularly the way we socialize — has changed over the past 20-30 years, which basically amounts to "the age of the Internet."

At the risk of coming across as a pessimist, I fear that the world will be facing a wave of mental health issues of epidemic proportions over the next 10-20 years.

Good for me, I suppose, as a counselor... but I truthfully don't really want there to be more people in the world in need of mental health guidance!

Earlier today, I read a commentary/opinion piece in which the author was observing that relationships we rapidly losing "substance" in this day and age.

Her "angle" was that so-called "Instagram Models" (and similar influencers) were increasingly setting ever more ridiculous and unattainable standards for life and appearance and behaviors.

One of her observations was that being "middle of the road" was basically a death sentence in a world where only the top 10% of the barrel gets "swiped right." Leaving 90% of the world in a dark lonely world where they don't seem good enough, and nobody seems good enough for them.

Genuine relationships being replaced by made-for-social media relationships; real love being replaced by empty hookups.

The Internet held the promise of being this marvel that would bring us all much closer together, but instead we have ended up growing more distant from each other than ever... and addicted to the false self-portrayals that we know are false, so we lack the courage to actually get OUT of the matrix and meet each other in fleshspace, where all our "averageness" is on display.

Even during the pandemic with lockdowns, the number of deaths from suicide was often higher than the number of deaths from Covid.

Meanwhile, the world suffers from a strange "gender identity crisis." Small wonder — ever more people perceive that they are not enough as they are.

"Virtual Life" may be a nice and safe place to escape to, but it doesn't prepare us well for Actual life.

Thanks for visiting, and Bright Blessings to all!

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