It is no secret that social media has, over the past few years, become an important, almost defining factor of this generation, particularly among teenagers. In an increasingly globalized world, we are more connected than ever, and social interactions now are not simply restricted to social interactions in person, they transcend into the virtual world. We are constantly checking our phones for a new message, a new friend request on Facebook, another “like” on our pictures, or a comment on our posts. While this “lifestyle” has become the new normal for many of us, it is important to understand (or at least try to) why social media has gained so much popularity, and the consequences of its use.

One platform that has recently caught my attention was Instagram; on a daily basis, a quick scroll through a dashboard reveals several pictures posted by the members of a community, capturing social gatherings, food, exotic scenery and selfies. Every picture has been “liked” by several people (many of them members of the same community) and commented on by those seeking to praise the original poster. But why is it that we post such things and, in many cases, even feel compelled to do so? Are we simply seeking to share bits of our lives with others to feel connected, or are we subconsciously relying on the false sense of validation that comes with virtual recognition?

Recently I was walking around the UBC campus and came across the Rose Garden, and noticed the breathtaking beauty of it. My instinctive reaction was to snap a picture of it, in an attempt to capture such moment. My initial thought, however, was that I had to share that picture on social media, I had to let others see it as well. Looking back on it, though, I cannot truly point out the purpose of that action; did I simply want to let those around me know that such beautiful place existed? Did I want to show that I was out and about exploring the UBC campus, creating an image of an “active and adventurous” person for myself? Was I trying to boost my own ego by showing others that I have the privilege of attending an institution that possesses so many different resources? Or was it, simply put, for the sake of the aesthetics of it?

I believe that, as of right now, it is not truly possible to understand the psychology and reasons behind one’s relationship with social media. While some may argue it comes from a place of pure narcissism and vanity mixed with a craving for validation, others may just as well point out that it creates a sense of community among those who use it. Thanks to social media, we get to interact with others outside of our regular social settings, and get to see parts of their lives and even personalities that we perhaps wouldn’t be able to without such platforms. This, however, doesn’t come without some dangerous “side-effects”; because on social media we can choose what to share and when to share it, we tend to only showcase the very best aspects of our lives, the moments we think are worth telling the world about, our ultimate accomplishments. While there is nothing seemingly wrong with such attitude, this creates the illusion that, ultimately, there is only happiness and greatness in our lives, that we are always having a great time eating expensive food and travelling with all our friends. This “picture-perfect” world, in turn, leads to the creation of a society filled with social pressures we may not even be aware of. A person who is scrolling through their Instagram seeing all of their friends and acquaintances sharing their accomplishments and lavish lifestyles will naturally, even if subconsciously, feel pressured to strive for that, to have the same accomplishments. We have created a world where we hide our struggles, and are encouraged to do so for the sake of the community. This way, we must begin to understand our current society in order to keep evolving and changing it for the better; making transparent not only our best moments but also our sorrows, our struggles. As autobiographer Kate Douglas notes, even though many may be quick to judge and shame teenagers for this seemingly self-centered use of social media, we ought to reflect and view it as a new form of communication if we want to keep developing new ways to improve it. We cannot simply dismiss the teenagers’ behaviours as “vain” and “irresponsible”; we must seek to comprehend it.

Ultimately, among the younger generations we have created this world in which we are always connected, no matter what. This sense of community, however, also comes with a skewed perception of reality; we create this illusion that we truly know each other when we only see what others want us to see, and in order to change it, we must understand it.