The Best Social Media Analogy I Ever Heard

The images on social media are like the case of the Newscaster who sits at his desk, perfect hair, airbrushed-water-based makeup on, tie knotted, shirt crisp. He begins to speak, everything is excellent. Then the director yells, “Cut!”

He gets up from his chair, and the truth is revealed—he’s wearing no pants. His shirt hangs over a pair of baggy briefs. He tears the velcro tie from his shirt and yells for some beer while scratching his behind.

Summary, nothing is as it appears in reality, and especially on social media. 

We only ever see people put their best forward online. And can you blame us? We only curate happy memories, the bad memories would rather be forgotten. Plus everyone would like to be considered with dignity and not remembered for beating up a family member in the elevator (hey, no shade thrown). So everyone puts up happy family portraits; no one puts up a photo when cutie and you are having an argument, although I think, I might do this one day. One for the gram. Everyone puts up adorable baby photos, never photos of the screaming not-so-adorable baby who hasn’t slept in 6 hours; they do not Snapchat their toddler chewing indecipherable stuff from the floor either. No one puts up their credit card balance, but you see the Ferragamo logo. And just to drive home my point, I will never Snapchat my charred plantains, because charred plantains bring everyone joy and cheer...said no one ever.  

Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by what other people’s lives look like on camera. That tie maybe velcro and those hair extensions too. On the other hand, they also maybe real. Either way, be joyful about the lives others are blessed with and content with all you have. 

The analogy cracks me up. Nonetheless, it shouldn't comfort us that these people’s lives may not be what they seem, in fact we should extend all human goodwill and pray they are as they appear in public or online—pray that couple is truly happy, that Ferrari hasn’t broken the bank, that baby is truly a toothless saint(right), that tie isn’t velcro and everyone has pants on. It’s the decent, human thing to do.

Do you ever post not-so-perfect photos? Ever have social media envy?

Analogy from my brother, Akin.