Facebook Life Vs. Real Life

There is so much to say about the phenomenon of Facebook and it's impact of our society's self-image and esteem. Serious studies have been done on this subject with not so surprising results. Just google Facebook and depression. Facebook and narcissism. Facebook and self-esteem. Go ahead and read what has been concluded.

Facebook is the virtual image of the old saying: the grass is always greener on the other side. Now the grass happens to be status updates, links, pictures, shout-outs and other viral connections that flood our Facebook wall. The crazy thing is that we only see the positive of our friends' lives. So that's mostly what we have to compare to our own lives.

Wedding pictures. Baby smiles. Anniversary messages. Congratulations. Graduation announcements. Traveling photo albums. Excited Status updates. Our walls are filled with how well everyone else's lives are going as we sit in front of the computer/phone screen wondering why all these amazing things are happening to those around us, but we're still stuck in our dreary world. Yes, we have good moments and occasions, but there are always the mundane moments or struggles that we remember as well.

The crux of it all is that people do not post the mundane or the struggles (unless they are extremely emotional about it). We are only shown the smiles and the triumph. In other words, we are never given the full picture. We see our own ups and downs, but hardly our Facebook friends'. To compare the two, we will always find fault in our own real lives.

So don't. Remind yourself when you feel that sliver of envy or jealousy creeping in as you note all the great things happening to "everyone else," that you do not know their whole story. Who knows, someone might be looking at your Facebook life and believe that you have the perfect life.

Do not confuse Facebook Life with Real life.