Social Media Realities: the Smoke and Mirrors

Social media is the go-to place for entertainment, and even for news to some people. Unfortunately, it’s also a major source of depression among the youth specifically because some people are not able to separate what they see on social media from reality. The point is that social media is mostly a façade, representing only a fraction of what we know or think we know about people. If they’re posting about real things in their lives at all.

People show you what they want you to see

This is something to always have at the back of our minds as we mindlessly scroll social media – whatever someone is posting on social media about their life is what they’re allowing you to see. Doesn’t mean that is all there is to them, but simply what they’re showing you.

I believe this is what most people are failing to realize – that everyone on social media is hiding the dirty laundry they don’t want people to find out, only showcasing the glittery highlights of their lives. I mean just think about it, even you don’t go around telling people how sad and miserable your life is. You don’t post the tears when you’re thinking about the fate of your future, the nightmare of the impending semester you’re about to fail, the broke reality of your finances, or the tears from all the romantic and job rejections. But you post those trips, the cute photos, the good memories with your partner. Why do you think other people will break character if even you don’t?

It’s really just a matter of who can hide and pretend better

Of course, you might be someone that would post about the challenges in your life, but it’s good to understand that most people don’t. So, what you perceive as a great relationship, or a successful person, or a morally upright person might all just be smoke n mirrors.

TB Joshua is the nearest case study

This was someone who most people looked up to as a “prophet”. The man could almost create his own religion because of the extremity of blind fellowship his disciples had in him. He had the perfect social media and press image. That was of course all before the BBC’s horror expos on his entire act.

I promise you that his case is not the only one going on that we’re not aware of. It’s just a matter of who is the better actor.

Social Media is for content

This is another stark reality I believe most people are failing to realize. Social media is not where you meet people for who they are. It’s where you read about the type of stuff people want to share about. That is called content.

Everyone on social media has their content niche. What you see on people’s pages are their expression of their niche. A lifestyle creator will always appear to be living their best lives, because why wouldn’t they? It’s their niche. Everything they post about will look fancy in a way.

Today, people treat social media less like a place to have fun, but a place to do business.

And there’s nothing wrong with that. In the early days of social media, monetization was not really much of a thing, and people on social media were there to have fun. As social media and the internet evolves, we’ve sought ways to have fun, now while monetizing the fun at the same time. What does that mean?

That because of monetization, people will share things that are completely out of touch with who they are and what they represent, all to make a quick buck.

Bongo Ideas, a Ghanaian example

I’m not sure you’ll know this person I’m talking about especially if you’re not from Ghana. He’s a controversial creator on X that has made a name for tweeting exclusively about controversies. He has insulted and said some very out-of-pocket stuff that has gotten him some serious hate by the Ghanaian X community. But all the hate gives his posts clicks and impressions and that translates to good cash. Can we really blame him? His X impressions won’t.

In business, we learn to sell what people are buying. If what people are buying is controversies, then he’ll gladly be a controversial person. Some people that have good discernment are able to see through his posts and tell that he’s saying these things for the impressions. But a few clueless others keep hating because they take social media too seriously. Ironically, they’re the people his content is for.

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The baseline is that if you want to get to know people for who they are, meeting them in real life is your best bet. But even that is a bet because it’s not guaranteed that in person, they’ll be real with you. Imagine how much of a bigger bet trying to tell who a person is just from their socials.

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