![]() What’s more, Ellmore says that her Facebook feed was actually a more accurate record of her life than her depression-tinged perception. Wretched as I felt inside, receiving “likes” and positive comments, trite as they may seem, reminded me that I was seen, and mattered. If I hadn’t had it, I think I would have withdrawn socially even more than I did, which in turn would have made my depression even worse.” I experienced the same effect. “But Facebook offered me a platform on which I could ensure an acceptable appearance. ![]() Ten to one, you'll find that the most prevalent body part in. Look at the pictures posted by your friends, and by your friends' friends. Look at the pictures you posted on Facebook. I often stayed in my apartment for days at a time because I was afraid that people outside would see that I had been crying and judge me,” writes Ellmore. The relentlessly chirpy character of the world's most popular social network explains why it's such a powerful marketing machine. As Harvard graduate student Holly Ellmore explains in Quartz, faking happiness on social media, while often detrimental, can also be an effective means of fighting mental illness. The dissonance between the way we feel and the way we present ourselves to the outside world can be confusing, but we’re not liars, nor do we deserve to be shamed. The solution, however, isn’t necessarily to cut back on all those smiling photos. But discussing your personal darkness? Reel it in, girl. Posting about depression, addiction, or eating disorders in an intellectual, abstract way looks woke. This influence is only amplified by the fact that it’s easy (and expected) to post fun, light experiences, but feels overbearing to share your experiences with the darker sides of life. It’s why studies continuously prove the damaging effects of social media on mental health, especially among young people. As of this writing, it has nearly 600 retweets, and over 2,500 likes, with people sharing photos of themselves posing happily and confidently for the camera-with added captions explaining that the shot had been taken shortly after they’d experienced anxiety attacks, while they were worrying over a family member’s health, or just moments after crying in their therapists’ offices.Ĭlayton says the inspiration for the thread came from an unlikely source: insurance companies. This reality was crystallized by a Twitter thread this week started by Tracy Clayton, host of the BuzzFeed podcast “Another Round.” Clayton asked her followers if they would be comfortable sharing a photo they had posted on social media during a time of personal strife: The truth is that what people post on social media often has very little to do with their inner state of mind. ![]() Instead, you’ll find posts that suggest I’m in an apparently constant state of joy and accomplishment: Photos of fall foliage runs, beach-side bachelorette parties, launching new projects, and making pasta with my mom.
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