Social Media has a secret! It is hiding how people are truly feeling each day. Every picture on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat may show a group of friends having a wonderful time. They are happy, laughing and looking so connected to the people they are with, yet we forget that is one moment in time. There are times people just smile because they know the world is watching and hiding the emotions that are overwhelming them on a daily basis. This is often true, especially at college. Teens are documenting their every shared moment on social media. Is it to prove to the world how popular they are? How many friends they have made? Or to throw others off the trail of how they are really feeling?
The perception of those pictures are “everyone is so happy and having a great time but me” because those fun moments are all that is shared. Many teens perceive social media as the only legitimate and reliable gauge of emotions instead of having a discussion face to face where the reality can be seen and heard. This discourages the person who feels down, sad or hurt to discuss these feelings with anyone because they believe no one understands or feels the same way. This perception is incredibly wrong!
No one wants to be the first one to say it, but as soon as one person opens up, the others start to agree that they also have feelings of isolation, anxiety, stress and sadness. It is more common these days than college students realize. Being honest about your feelings is a way to start to change the negative thoughts and emotions. There is no shame in these feelings. They are real and should be shared with others. If you saw a post of someone crying who you are friends with, would you think “thank goodness that isn’t me?” Most likely you would be relieved that someone was so honest and you might relate. You would want to reach out and do something to make them feel better. There is no need to hide or feel alone, be embarrassed or ashamed. Share your feelings, share your thoughts and be honest with those people you call your friends. That is what they are there for!
