My view

In this post I will be shortly expressing my view on the content creators faking their lifestyles and how it affects them and their followers.

“The content that is shared and that is consumed on social media are the factors that shape our perception of our life and the lives of others, therefore the reality that users exist is their personal choice.”

by Jacqueline Kalinec

Undoubtedly social media plays a big role in our lives nowadays. It allows us to be always informed and stay on stream, as well it provides people with an opportunity to express themselves and promote their opinions in the way, shape, and form they wish. Social media is allowing us to stay in the ‘global village’ and interconnected as much as it is possible.

Because content that is posted on the social media platforms can be viewed by anybody (unless you set on some private settings), it is making the majority of the users post and show only the best perspective of their lives, when it comes to such platforms as Instagram, Facebook, etc. And these actions are affecting both: content creators and their followers.

Posts on social media are shaping the way the persona behind the post is perceived by everyone else. For instance, the posts that radiate a ‘luxury’ style of living, would have several effects on the audience and on the individual that is managing the account. First of all, the person will be perceived as having a certain status, and their everyday life will be stereotyped by the audience based on the post. Secondly, the audience unconsciously will compare their lives with the exact post and feel like this is the “right way” how it should be or at least should look like. As a consequence, it may raise the feeling of insecurity, failure, and deviance in multiple aspects: wealth, appearance, lifestyle, and status. In addition, it has certain effects on the individual behind the content, the post is setting certain standards and expectations of further content and how their life should be and look like. Therefore, nothing that is on the level lower can be shown later, the tendency of perspective should be kept or pushed even higher. The persona that appears to be trapped in these expectations from followers can experience the same effects as their followers with the addition of ‘imposter syndrome’ and conflict of their real personality with the ‘fake’ social media personality.

Despite the tendency of faking the personality and influence in social media, just like everywhere, there are exceptions in this field. With the trend of being ‘natural’ in many aspects of life, which has been trending for the last 2-3 years, some content creators are starting to share content that is showing their ‘real-real life’. This content is aimed to eliminate the negative effects that can be caused by famous content creators and promote a realistic view of life through the lens of social media platforms.

Undoubtedly social media plays a big role in our lives nowadays. Through the postings on social media platforms, most users are gaining the belief of the reality of their existence and the value of their life. If the events of life are depicted and shared on social media, with the appreciation of other people, it results in a feeling of ‘existing and living’, because of other users being exposed to the events of the content maker. We exist only in the memory and mind of others and vice versa. The content that is shared and that is consumed on social media are the factors that shape our perception of our life and the lives of others, therefore the reality that users exist is their personal choice.