From Followers to Isolation: How Social Media Hijacks Your Brain
1. “Comparison Is Killing Your Curiosity” (Why I Ghosted My College Friends)
In 2020, I spent hours crafting the perfect quarantine post: sourdough bread, sunset yoga, #Blessed. Meanwhile, I was binge-eating Oreos in sweatpants. My friend Amy commented “Living your best life! 😍” and I felt like a fraud.
But when Amy posted her own “perfect family Zoom Thanksgiving,” I secretly gloated: “Her turkey looks dry. At least mine was juicy.”
The cycle:
- Compare
- Feel inadequate
- Judge others to cope
- Isolate
Science says: A 2023 study found 7 minutes of scrolling increases self-criticism by 60%. No wonder we’re all hiding behind filters.
My fix:
- “Reverse stalking”: Spend 10 minutes writing what you admire about 3 people you envy. (I learned Amy was caring for her dementia mom while posting those “perfect” pics.)
- Text a friend: “No performative BS—how are you really?”
