LIFE CANVAS | Filtered Lives, Unfiltered Struggles
Jinvy Im and Marc Servo
In today’s world, it is common for someone to casually say that their hobby is just scrolling through social media. The action has become a daily ritual for most of us, acting as a mindless thing to do without much thought. As we swipe through our friends on vacations and influencers presenting their perfect bodies, it is hard not to pause and feel inferior.
According to MeltWater, social media is used by 73.4% of the entire Filipino population as of 2024, ranking in the top four worldwide by February. As such, social media has transformed into a medium for connection to a place where the curated lives of others constantly challenge our perception of ourselves. This constant exposure to unrealistic standards is harming our self-image, fostering a comparison culture that erodes self-esteem and leaves users trapped in an endless tunnel pursuit of validation.
The concept of comparison culture has become pervasive in the internet society, where users often place themselves side by side with the idealized version of others. Platforms like Instagram, driven by algorithms to maximize user engagement, continually expose us to polished images of beauty, success, and happiness. This endless loop of content reinforces the belief that we must all comply to an extent to be presentable.
This norm is harmful. What we see online is a filtered reality, yet it becomes the criteria we evaluate each other. This insight to perfection warps our self-image, making it harder to appreciate our unique qualities or even take pride in our achievements as an individual.
The long-term effects of this culture are profound, leading to unbearable anxiety and insecurity. Social media connects us but also pushes us into a cycle that erodes our sense of self-worth.
Social Media validation is a cognitive bias—systematic errors in reasoning caused by subjective perception of reality—powered by peer feedback that people often use to indicate competence, or worse, self-worth. It’s normal because humans are social people who tend to want to be accepted in a clique.
However, the issue with validating your self-worth online lies in the constant need to satiate yourself with enough engagements: a quota of likes, comments, and follows that when unmet, becomes an unfair reflection of a person.
In my experience, the fluctuating number of likes and comments in my pictures makes me question my physicality, and overnight distress on whether I should replace my profile with an empty avatar, or forever feel insecure about it.
While finding validation online isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can cause harmful effects in the long run as the number of engagements does not instantly make a person better than others—it just reinforces a cognitive bias. The short-term happiness we get from online validation only serves to trap us in a cycle of self-doubt.
After all, dependency on social media for self-worth not only imposes unfair standards but also leads to a significant loss of time and productivity. According to research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, the addictive nature of social media can lead to concentration issues that lead to lower performance levels in cognitive tasks. On average, Filipinos aged 16-64 spend 60% of their day on mobile devices. This excessive screen time consumes a substantial portion, leaving little room for personal growth, meaningful activities, or even simple relaxation. Instead of using time productively, many find themselves trapped in an endless cycle of scrolling.
The truth is, we will never be worthy enough, good enough, or happy enough—and maybe, it’s alright to be a constant work in progress—flawed, but thriving. Your self-worth is more than any number of likes and shares. Putting ourselves under subjective scrutiny in the presence of digital figures is unfair to ourselves who constantly put in the effort to become our best versions. Trust me, there is more to our lives than what social media makes us out to be.
Social media only present idealized versions of reality, so the key to improving self-image lies in finding balance. Instead of allowing ourselves to be consumed by the endless cycle of validation, we can set boundaries for our social media use and focus on curating a healthier online environment. This means following accounts that inspire us, joining communities that promote positivity, and surrounding ourselves with people who uplift rather than compare. It is also important to recognize the value of offline connections and activities that nurture our well-being. Finding this balance can transform social media from a source of pressure into a zone where one can feel comfortable.
So take time off social media and breathe. Sometimes, what we need a constant reminder that we are enough, and we don’t need social media to validate that.