In this blog post, we explore why people select only their happy moments to post on social media, why they come to believe that this image is their true self, and the consequences of this behavior.
The Paradox of Privacy Concerns and Public Disclosure
A few years ago, when Google recognized the right to request the deletion of personal information online—the so-called “right to be forgotten”—the issue of online privacy protection garnered significant attention. Concerns about personal data leaks and privacy violations, such as the controversy over messenger surveillance, have continued to arise, leading some users to switch to overseas services deemed difficult to monitor. As such, interest in privacy protection is clearly growing in modern society.
Nevertheless, most people actively share their daily lives on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It is common to see users posting detailed accounts of even the most trivial moments—such as “when, where, with whom, what they did, and what they ate”—going beyond mere records of their activities. This dual attitude, where people choose to share despite the growing movement for privacy protection, is widespread in the online space.
Is social media a diary or a stage?
Some view social media as an evolved form of a diary. It resembles a diary in that it allows users to reflect on past memories and naturally share updates with those around them. However, a stark difference becomes apparent when comparing others’ feeds to one’s own past diary entries.
While diaries inevitably contain sadness, complaints, and exhaustion, posts on social media are generally limited to things that appear happy and carefree. This difference goes beyond a simple matter of choice; it demonstrates that social media has become a stage where individuals “package” and “stage” their lives.
People package their lives to appear more glamorous and carefree in order to garner envy and attention from others. Given the fast-paced nature of social media, where reactions come and go quickly, once they see positive responses, they become increasingly obsessed with maintaining this staged image. Through this process, they can fall into a state of self-hypnosis, convincing themselves that they are “truly happy.”
The Cost of the Mask: Fatigue and Isolation
Why go so far as to resort to self-hypnosis just to appear happy? The social context makes it understandable. Young people in their 20s and 30s live under anxiety and pressure due to economic downturns, employment difficulties, and the burden of student loans. In a reality where it’s hard to find any leeway—juggling part-time jobs to cover tuition and living expenses while preparing for employment—the “happy moments” on social media serve as a form of comfort.
However, such comfort is not genuine. When you hide your true feelings and focus only on presenting a polished exterior, you end up projecting an image that doesn’t match your actual emotions. The disconnect between the self others see and your true self leads to emotional exhaustion and isolation in the long run.
In fact, social psychology studies report that the more people use social media, the lower their life satisfaction tends to be. This is because seeing others’ carefully curated lives breeds jealousy and comparison, making one’s own reality feel insignificant. Consequently, when everyone is wearing a “mask of happiness,” a paradox emerges: while things may look glamorous on the surface, internally, unhappiness and competition only deepen.
While social media has the advantage of allowing us to share our daily lives and fostering a sense of connection, it can also become a tool that fuels the pressure to compare and put on a show. Therefore, it may be healthier to recognize the separation between our online personas and our real-life emotions, and to choose honesty from time to time.
