We live in a world where we have made social media one of our top priorities. If we aren’t working or watching Netflix we’re scrolling through Instagram or Twitter.
While our online personas may not be “fake” per se, we definitely do conceal a part of our true selves to appeal to our followers. We hide our weaknesses and embarrassing moments. We use Instagram filters, photoshop and lightroom to fit a certain aesthetic. However, we are more than just an aesthetic in real life.
The whole virtual self versus real self, debate has gotten more attention after people had posted videos on Tik Tok and YouTube titled “rating influencers I met at Playlist Live”. This was a trend wherein fans or other influencers posted videos about the famous Tik Tok starts or YouTubers they interacted with giving them a rating out of 10.
@nograd ##rating ##influencers I’ve met @tanamongeaulol @rickeythompson @mannymua733 | ##ratingpeople ##ratingcelebrities
At times, people tend to be more critical online than they are offline as they are posting their opinions from behind a screen. While some, tend to be more kind online as they have the time to think things through while responding to a message or comment, compared to in real life.
Social media is even used to validate how we feel about certain things. For example, we feel the need to post pictures of us going to the gym or going to a fancy restaurant as proof that we were actually doing that particular activity. But even if we don’t post a picture of the activity, it doesn’t mean that it didn’t happen.
Sometimes it’s easier holding a conversation with a person online. That’s because you don’t have to read facial expressions, body language and tonal shifts. You don’t even have to worry about what your wearing or your surroundings, you are simply just focused on texting the person. If you feel like the conversation is fading you could just pull up information from anywhere on the internet to and start a new topic of conversation.
However, over time the line between an individual’s virtual and real self has slowly gotten blurry as people nowadays tend to reveal more about themselves over the internet rather than in person.
Do you tend to be more open online or in-person?
Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
