Social media and social comparison

In short: People naturally compare themselves to others; social media amplifies this effect through constant glimpses into seemingly perfect lives. This can affect self-esteem and mood.

In more detail: Social comparison theory describes how people assess their own status based on others.

In detail

• Upward comparison: Comparing yourself to seemingly more successful people can motivate or discourage.
• Curated life: Social media profiles usually show only selected highlights, not everyday life.
• Fear of missing out: The fear of missing something increases frequent scrolling.
• Digital breaks: Deliberate time away from social media can improve wellbeing.
• Curating the feed: Unfollow accounts that regularly trigger negative feelings.
• Reflecting on your own use: Monitor usage time and limit it if needed (gaming-und-bildschirmzeit-gesund-spielen-und-warnzeichen-erkennen).
• Teenagers: Especially susceptible to comparison pressure, guidance from adults helps.