By Meera Chavan
Your life is sad. Looking at the newest post on your Instagram page, there only seems to be a mere twenty likes and three comments—pathetic, pitiful even. Had you obtained a modest 100 likes, you would not have seemed as sorrowful; perhaps people knew from your bland camera angles or your general unlikeable nature to avoid your account.
Or maybe, the lack of appreciation for the picture you so naïvely desired to share with the world stemmed from the fact that the majority of your life is essentially boring. For some inspiration on how to add some fun on your page, look no further than the most interesting people on the planet: social media influencers. Their talents lie not only in lounging around at expensive hotels and wearing the newest Prada – Gucci – Chanel – Dior – Ultra – Supreme – Boujee – Upper Class – Fancy clothing, but also in their outrageously hilarious comedy skits which often involve the destruction of stores (the employees at these stores should be thankful that they even got a slight taste of the influencer life, in the end, we are all servants to these people and must clean up their messes so they can make the most of their lives), or their extremely complicated and intricate dance routines such as the critically acclaimed “Renegade”.
The factor that makes these pillars of society outstandingly superior to the average human being, however, lies in the general positivity and warmth they so graciously spread to their spectators. In every post, story, and TikTok shared, one can always notice a good-natured grin accompanying the enlightening content they publicize for the day. After all, it is a well established fact that influencers have never had a bad day in their life, as observed through their posts. Whether they engage in a day out with friends, a dinner party at the groundbreaking new eatery in town, or a mindfulness session (which always ends with a heartfelt, “namaste,” due to their deep knowledge of ethnic greetings), anyone can feel the pure enjoyment these people experience. Platforms show that they are always happy, and these apps directly parallel our daily practices, therefore, this connection proves that these figures constantly uphold a jovial temperament (unlike the common folk, who have to deal with issues regarding family, health, school, and friends). In the end, what is social media if not an exact reflection of our lives?
Studies show that, “social comparison and feedback seeking by teens using social media… was linked with depressive symptoms” (Mayo). In essence, many teenagers compare themselves with others, curious to see if they can receive more likes and comments than their peers. Waiting expectantly for a certain amount of validation on social platforms, they can become depressed if the numbers do not match the ones envisioned in their head.
These ignorant teens do not realize the solution to this problem: that there simply is not one. If they really wanted to obtain the recognition they greatly crave, these teens should register the necessary qualifications to accomplish this goal: having a fun life. Since social media parallels a person’s actual life, the only way to make yourself popular and desirable amongst the general public is to participate in appealing activities to make yourself untouchable to not worry about the struggles that the commoners go through. These actions prove to be hopeless for the average teenager though, as obstacles in their life that the media considers, “uncool” and “not fun,” such as meddling parents and school stand in the way. In simple terms: if you want more likes, just have a better life.