Life as it is NOT on social media

We exchanged the commercial break on TV for the constant propaganda of how extremely happy everyone around us is, every day of the week – and on the weekend, then, it goes without saying. Depending on the moment we are in, the broadcasting of other people’s lives on Facebook and Instagram has the power (or we give it that power) to make us happy or sad, satisfied with ourselves or desiring what we don’t have.

Since a few years ago, when we were at home on Saturday night, happy to marathon “Game of Thrones” eating pizza, we would open Instagram and it was inevitable to feel a bit of FOMO (fear of missing out, in English), the fear of missing the train of events. A sensation that has already been so talked about and studied that it gave rise to its counterpoint: JOMO (joy of missing out), the joy of missing this avalanche of events on our timeline.

From theories to practice, I learned in recent weeks that we are increasingly so used to creating an impeccable narrative of our lives that it is common for viewers, or followers, to buy into our idea of ​​happiness.

Nothing a bar table can’t fix.

The other day, a friend of those who are not part of everyday life and whose perfect life includes four adorable children, trailer trips to remote places and lots of delicious food sent an email saying that she had separated. The shock was so great that it was never so quick to arrange a lunch for her to tell her everything. I ended up saying that it was impossible to think that in her life as an Instagram commercial there was a place for crisis. And I soon realized that between one post and another there is, in fact, room for a lot of vulnerability.

She told about her journey of self-knowledge, the new choices she started to make. Her posts haven’t changed that much, but seeing Instagram through the filter of reality has made me more at peace with my own struggles.

I left lunch thinking: let’s keep watching these commercials in a loop, as we are increasingly internalizing this idea that the internet is a part of life. A big piece even, but still a piece, even though the limits are increasingly tenuous depending on how much each one uses the network.

The next time you’re feeling that other people’s lives are better than yours, stop and think: we’re all broadcasting near-live commercials of our lives. Flawless script, unique production, high-budget shooting and surgical editing. There’s no way it can be bad. We are well aware, however, that it is the twists and turns that make life much more electrifying or, at least, more fun.