Do you ever get jealous or depressed looking at peoples experiences on social media?

[smahala1991]

I have this friend that always gets to go to concerts and vacations. I mean, it's like every weekend just about. She and her man always go to Atlanta to Braves games. They go to several big-name concerts like Taylor Swift, Paramore, Avril Lavigne, etc.., and she got to go to Fort Lauderdale just this past weekend. Now she's posting she's getting ready to go on a flight somewhere else this weekend. I mean, it depresses me because There are things I'd like to experience and do, but I can't. Do you think these feelings of lowkey jealousy and depression are expected, or has social media turned things like this toxic? Why can't I find a group of friends like that?

[Whatthefluff]

Yes I do, I feel bad looking at former classmates. Especially for the glow ups. Some of the kids I knew in middle school are absolutely gorgeous 20/21 year olds. I also feel lesser than when I see what colleges they’re going to and where they’re traveling to. Not proud of it, but I’m sometimes envious and often feel inadequate. But I know that I am doing some things for myself that may not be or appear as spectacular and enviable as what some of my former peers experience, but it’s not fair to compare. There are certainly side stories in everyone’s lives they struggle with. And there are certainly things that they might envy about my life. Also, they’re posting this or that but what percentage of them are truly happy? I’ve learned to be happy for everyone I know while understanding that everything they post pictures the idealistic version of their lives. And to cope with it making me sometimes feel inadequate that I’m not on the same “level” as them as far as kind of university, friends/social life, $ situation, etc. . . I am not going to obsess or vie over another’s life while ignoring my own and appreciating what I have.

[Whatthefluff]

I’ve been more or less depressed and anxious for years but do I share that with anyone besides now because I’m fucking drunk? NO! So who’s to say that 30/70% of the people I “long” to have a life similar to have struggles behind closed doors? Probably most!

[Whatthefluff]

So my advice to you is to focus on your happiness because while people like that may have more recreational opportunities than you or whatever, they probably have equal or even more struggle than you do privately. So the best thing to do is to work hard and keep looking forward, because the worst thing you can do is quit because you don’t think things will get better!

[MysticAngel5000]

This is a huge reason why I don't use social media. It is so annoying and toxic. A lot of it is also FAKE.

When people feel the need to post crap like this on social media all the time, it's literally just a "look at me", attention-seeking thing. It's sad really. I mean you went to a concert or a sporting event. Big deal! Why do you have to share it with the world? I stayed in Tennessee in the freaking mountains for a month a couple summers ago. I had an amazing time and had a beautiful cabin to stay in. Did I post it to social media? No. I enjoyed plenty of fun and took SO many beautiful pictures. I kept them for private use. I shared them with those close to me. I did not feel the need to brag or share on social media.

People who flaunt their money, travels, etc., are nothing to be jealous about. Half of them can't even honestly afford what they do. They just live above their means and suffer debts due to their lifestyle. Others genuinely can afford it and choose to brag and be showy. That is not attractive at all.

Posting vacation info and such on social media is actually a safety hazard as well. Criminals have been known to check social media accounts to make note of people on vacation so they can plan a robbery.

Don't let others make you feel bad about yourself. We all have things we'd love to have or do, yet can't afford. It's fine and doesn't make you any less of a person. Your showy friend is not better than you. No one on social media is above you or better than you. Keep in mind a lot of these "influencers" and other internet personalities live double lives. They portray themselves as so glamorous and perfect, but their real life is anything but that. You have absolutely nothing to be jealous over. Live your life and don't compare it to other people's. If there are special trips you'd like to take or other things to occasionally treat yourself, make a plan/budget and save up for it.

[AaronKrieger]

No, but it can motivate me to want to do more shit, but I barely ever get jealous/depressed about it. I do not need to have their life, since my own needs and who I am are different, which is completely fine.

If I did all the shit my friends did, then I know I would be very disappointed by it, since I would be bored/exhausted out of my mind after doing it once, lmao. It's just not who I am

[MementoMori777]

Yea unfortunately I'm only human but I swallow it and congratulate them when they tell me about it.

[jennifer_bloom]

My cousin is a psychologist and she told me my problem was I exercised my mind more than I exercised my body during my youth so my body isn't balanced between brain and limbs. Human beings can only absorb a certain amount in their lives and somebody who fixates too much on outside things, will not have time to take in the things that are inside the person. This is why so many people who have money and luxuries end up depressed, they have all the outside adornments of a happy life but are empty and broken and immature inside because they never developed their inner minds. I actually buy less than I can afford to because I believe too much money or luxury can distract you from the things that matter more like relationships or morals or value systems.

[art84]

I looked up two guys from my church who are now in their late 20's and they both have beautiful wives and post pics of eating at restaurants with their children and friends. I don't feel jealous as they certainly earned it going to college and you don't see what problems that they might have behind the smiles and stuff.

[Cute_potato01]

Watching my friends take trips and explore places while I work am 8 hour shift for 4 days a week and go to college to get a job I may or may not get because of occupational corruption

[annabananna]

I can’t recall being jealous. I like to look at their pics and it may give me some ideas on where to go if I go on vacation there. I don't know I may have gotten jealous at some point though I guess just not enough for me to recall.

[inhua]

most of it is fake anyway

[NathanDavis]

no, I do not use social media...

[CrimsonAngel09]

Yep.