It’s 2025, and with each day that passes we live more of our lives by means of social media. Almost everyone today has a social media presence, with some people have multiple channels they use daily to show the world their everyday doings. In fact, many people camp out online for most (or all) of their day, looking at their friends and social media posts, while adding to their own page with the latest updates. We share a lot of things today, but we share more by virtual means, rather than meeting and sharing in person. Is it good for our mental health to live so much of our lives virtually? And should we be even more concerned with how we will interact with social media in the future, where it is likely our virtual interactions will continue to take the place of real, face-to-face interactions?
Projecting ourselves to the world
Making a positive impression (impression management) to others is a worthwhile pursuit — when others see us as friendly, inviting, and cheery, they respond to us in similar ways, and from those interactions our mental health improves. In fact, one way to look at this is the world is a mirror to what we project to the world (so choose wisely!). Prior to the internet, the main way in which we gave the world impressions was through real, in-person interactions with others. Today, however, we project more of ourselves through how we represent by means of social media, including how we look, our personal opinions, and even future plans. Some people make posts that accurately reflect their lives, and spend little to no time trying to “dress things up” through exaggerations, hyperbole, or blatant lying. But what about people who project themselves very differently than their real life? Is there a cost to mental health when we put so much effort into social media impression management, especially when it barely reflects the truth of our lives?
Portraying a constant image online of happiness, success, and expensive personal acquisitions may be fun, but is it misleading? Many people put great effort into the ways in which they cultivate and manage their identity virtually, which may be in direct conflict with their real lives. Is there a cost to the individual trying to live up to what he or she has posted online, particularly with mental health? Below are examples of mental health concerns that can develop stemming from social media impression management:
Chronic anxiety & perfectionism
Constantly editing and filtering life for public approval can create intense pressure to live up to an unrealistic self-image.
Fear of judgment or not being “liked” leads to social anxiety, overthinking, and compulsive checking behaviors.
Low self esteem & insecurity
When users compare their real lives to others’ highlight reels, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy, envy, and self-doubt.
This comparison trap fuels negative self-talk and distorted self-worth based on online validation.
Depression & emotional fatigue
The gap between one’s real life and the curated digital persona can trigger feelings of emptiness, depression, and emotional exhaustion.
People often feel like imposters, struggling with inauthenticity and the emotional toll of maintaining an online facade.
Addiction to approval (dopamine dependency)
Likes, comments, and follows trigger dopamine, reinforcing compulsive behaviors.
Over time, the brain associates self-worth with digital affirmation — creating an approval addiction loop.
Fear of missing out (FOMO) & loneliness
Seeing others constantly post exciting experiences creates FOMO, even if those experiences are exaggerated or staged.
Ironically, the more time people spend online connecting, the more isolated and disconnected they often feel in real life.
Body image issues
Impression management often involves filters and enhancements that distort physical appearance.
This leads to body dissatisfaction, eating disorders, and identity confusion, especially among teens and young adults.
Loss of authentic relationships
When people focus on managing their image, they may avoid vulnerability, even in real-life friendships.
It becomes harder to form genuine connections when one is constantly performing for an audience.
It should be noted that not all people who use social media develop mental health issues, but as we more regularly interface with social media (often in place of in-person meetings), we need to be observant to issues developing as a result.
Final thoughts
As we spend more of each day online with social media, it is important to understand the potential mental health issues that can develop stemming from how we portray ourselves, and the images we work hard to promote. Unlike meeting people in person, social media allows us to curate an online personality with fewer flaws, better looks, and greater confidence. Hanging so much of our self-worth on social media makes us more vulnerable to a host of mental health issues, including anxiety, self-esteem issues, depression, and body image issues. Make sure your kids are aware of these concerns as well, as their generation will only interface even more with social media in the future.
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