The Dark Side of Social Media: Pretension, Impatience, and the Rise of Fake Influencers - by Kaartikeya Srivastava

It is amusing to witness the multitude of new inventions in the realm of social media, with every big tech entrepreneur striving to build platforms that connect people in remote areas. The primary purpose behind the invention of social media apps like Instagram, Twitter, and Threading (recently launched by Meta) was to bring people closer and create a global village. While these platforms have their benefits, their side effects are far more damaging than we ever imagined.

Let's take the case of Instagram as an example. People typically post their photos as either posts or stories. However, have you ever come across a post where someone reveals the truth about their life? Their daily struggles, their old broken house, their aging parents working tirelessly, their father wearing a tattered shirt, or their mother enduring chronic knee pain while battling a persistent cough for months? Most likely, you haven't. The culture of social media has intoxicated the world into believing that only a perfect lifestyle, appearance, or body is acceptable. This contradicts the fact that more than eighty percent of the population using these platforms are ordinary people with imperfections. Yet, they feel compelled to present a pretentious image of themselves and their lives, gradually becoming blinded by this charade. They pretend to be happy in photos taken during artificial social gatherings, even if they have never truly connected with the individuals they are posing with.

On the other side, those who observe these seemingly happy individuals on social media often feel depressed and inadequate, thinking that their own lives are not exciting enough or that they are not living up to the standards set by these seemingly perfect individuals. They fail to recognize that it is all pretense—nothing is real, and everything is done with the purpose of addicting people to social media.

Another significant issue arising from these platforms is the sense of impatience they foster. Young, naive, and immature social media influencers, who have stumbled upon some success, start dispensing wisdom that misguides people into believing that everything must be achieved immediately. They promote the idea that one should quit studying, start investing, and become a millionaire by the age of 25. While some of these influencers may have achieved this feat in their twenties, their audience, especially the youth, fails to distinguish that many of them were supported by their wealthy parents or had prior sources of income. Most did not start from scratch and received numerous gifts from their parents. Consequently, the local audience fixates on these unusual, rapid, and uncanny achievements, believing that if they are not on the same path by the age of 25, they are destined for failure. This shortcut to success is eradicating the true methods and paths to success, which may seem time-consuming and old-fashioned but are the only authentic routes. These paths require hard work, patience, and time, but when individuals reach the end, they experience genuine success.

In this era, everyone is busy building their personal brands on social media, and this is not inherently problematic. However, what troubles me is that the majority of these brands are built on false foundations and lies. People attain fame by plagiarizing the work of others and presenting it as their own. Many of these self-proclaimed experts, who themselves do not possess a grasp of success, publish articles and mentor others who are genuinely working hard to succeed in life. Unfortunately, it is challenging for people to distinguish between fake influencers and genuine ones (which are rare). Consequently, many fall into the trap of believing these impostors, jeopardizing their own lives in the process.

For instance, on platforms like LinkedIn, some individuals attach attractive photos of themselves to their posts in order to gain more attention. They understand that their content lacks novelty and meaning, so they attempt to compensate by presenting appealing visuals. People often believe what these individuals say based solely on their photos, assuming they lead lavish lifestyles.

Ironically, the truly wealthy and successful individuals are not active on these social media platforms themselves. If they do have profiles, they are usually managed by dedicated IT and social media teams. They are not wasting time scrolling through screens; instead, they are focused on creating real wealth and establishing genuine connections.

I recently came across a post from a friend who complained about the lack of job offers and employability. She shared that she had applied to numerous places and faced rejection. Ironically, she continued writing the post and started explaining what one should do to get selected for companies, sharing resources for courses that she used to learn new skills. However, few people know, and among them are likely the recruiters who rejected her, that the courses she completed were offered by social media influencers who themselves lack expertise in the subject matter. This level of ignorance is alarming, and it's no surprise that some might write articles highlighting these classic social media errors and warning people about their side effects.

In conclusion, social media platforms have unleashed a host of negative effects on individuals and society. The culture of pretension and the pressure to present an idealized life leads to feelings of inadequacy and depression. Impatient influencers promote unrealistic expectations and shortcut methods to success, undermining the value of hard work and patience. Additionally, the prevalence of fake influencers built on lies further erodes trust and misleads those seeking genuine guidance. It is crucial for us to recognize these detrimental aspects of social media and navigate its platforms with caution and critical thinking.