Technological greetings! Marta speaking.
We live in the age of “pics or it didn’t happen”, where it seems that if you don’t share something on Instagram, you haven’t really lived it. That spectacular dinner, that dream trip, that incredible concert… everything must be documented, filtered, tagged and uploaded to the network so the world knows how interesting your life is. It’s as if we had turned our experiences into personal marketing products, and ourselves into the brand that needs to be constantly promoted.
The curious thing is that this need for exposure has created a fascinating paradox: we had never been so connected and, at the same time, so disconnected. We can know that our former high school classmate is on holiday in Bali thanks to their stories, but we have no idea that our neighbour is going through a rough patch because that’s not something they post. We know the most intimate details of influencers we’ve never met in person, but we barely know anything about the real life of friends we haven’t seen in months.
Overexposure on social networks has psychological consequences that are already being studied by experts. FOMO syndrome (Fear Of Missing Out) is one of them. That feeling of anxiety that arises when you see everyone seems to be enjoying wonderful experiences while you’re at home, in pyjamas, watching series. What we don’t see is that those people probably also spend many nights in pyjamas watching series, but they don’t post that because it doesn’t earn likes.
Another interesting phenomenon is the creation of curated identities. We carefully select what to show and what to hide, creating idealised versions of ourselves. It’s as if we were all film directors of our own life, choosing the best angles, the best lighting and the best moments to create a narrative that often has little to do with reality. And the worst part is that we compare our real life, with all its ups and downs, with the perfectly edited lives of others.
Privacy is another victim of this culture of exposure. We share personal data, locations, daily routines and details of our lives that, in the wrong hands, can be used in ways we don’t even imagine. From identity theft to harassment, not to mention the simple fact that companies use this information to bombard us with personalised advertising. It’s as if we had signed a contract handing over the rights to our private life without reading the fine print.
Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable in this scenario. They were born into a world where exposure on social networks is the norm, and many don’t know any other way of socialising. Furthermore, their brains are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to social pressure and the need for the external validation that likes and comments provide. And let’s not forget “sharenting”, that practice by which parents constantly share photos and details of their children, creating a digital footprint for them even before they can decide whether they want one.
But not everything is negative in the world of social networks. They have also democratised communication, allowing voices that previously had no platform to be heard. They have facilitated the creation of communities based on common interests, regardless of geographic location. And they have been fundamental tools in social and political movements, enabling the organisation and dissemination of information that would otherwise have been silenced.
The key, as in so many things in life, lies in balance. Using social networks consciously, understanding their mechanisms and how they affect us. Asking ourselves why we share what we share and what we’re looking for with it. Is it to genuinely connect with others? To document important moments? Or is it for that dose of dopamine we get from watching the likes go up?
In my case, I’ve learned to enjoy moments without feeling the need to share them immediately. Sometimes, the most authentic experience is the one we keep only for ourselves or for the people who are physically present. As that meme circulating around says: “Remember when we did amazing things and didn’t tell anyone.” Maybe that’s where the real magic was.
In conclusion, exposure on social networks is a reality of our time that has its lights and shadows. It’s not about demonising them or abandoning them completely, but about using them in a way that enriches our lives instead of controlling them. Because at the end of the day, real life happens off the screen, in those moments that sometimes aren’t perfect or Instagram-worthy, but that are authentically ours. And that, my friends, is worth more than all the likes in the world. See you next time!
