[Ecohoon] Stop the Social Media Comparison Despair

Connecting with others through various social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and LinkedIn is a wonderful thing. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we couldn't meet offline, social media allowed us to stay connected.

But it's not all advantages. Today, the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits. We not only see the lives of people we know but also, through recommendation features, the lives of strangers, people we aren't even connected with.

SNS is a breeding ground for comparison. Even if you don't want to compare, you inevitably do. Many people post photos and text on SNS to show off. They post about nice places, delicious food, and expensive items, and these posts influence people's feelings. It sparks desires like, ‘I need to go to that place,’ ‘I need to eat that food,’ ‘I need to have that item.’

Furthermore, seeing people in prestigious companies, accomplishing amazing feats, and holding high positions sparks envy. We think, ‘I need to become like that person,’ ‘I need to reach that position and achieve success,’ ‘I need a high salary,’ ‘I need to work for a famous company, gain popularity, and become famous’—desires related to career aspirations also arise.

Satisfaction disappears. My life begins to look insignificant. I feel the need to present myself in a glamorous and beautiful way, like others. But our lives don't always turn out that way. This leads to frustration. We envy them because we mistakenly believe that their lives are always glamorous.

We can't enjoy expensive and delicious food, and beautiful places every day. It's difficult to work in a place that everyone envies for our whole lives. We should strive for progress, but we don't have to measure our lives against others. Our lives are inherently beautiful and precious. We should be grateful for the present and move forward towards tomorrow.