Would You Choose a Life Without Social Media?

Would You Choose a Life Without Social Media?

KAKALI DAS

Have you ever thought, “I will never be like them,” or “I wish I could afford those clothes or vacations,” or “I feel so behind in life,” or “I wish I looked like her,” or even “I can’t be happy unless I have those things”? If yes, you’re not alone.

Let me ask you something –what do you usually do when you feel bored? Do you pick up a book? Go for a run? Spend time on a hobby? Work on your goals?

Or do you most often grab your phone and scroll through social media?

For many of us, scrolling social media is the first thing we do when we’re bored. It feels like social media has become a necessary part of life. But what if I told you that while we’re scrolling, we’re actually losing the most important moments of our lives?

Here’s a question for you: If you had the chance to live your life completely free from social media, would you take it?

Many people have this question running through their minds every time they open social media. The truth is, social media can be harmful. It often shows us only wealth, expensive things, and a lifestyle full of over-consumption. It tells us that to be happy and successful, we must have these things and look a certain way. This is far from reality.

When we were kids, we never worried about fitting into a “cool” or “pretty” category. We had our own hobbies, quirks, and interests. We were probably happier then because we weren’t constantly comparing ourselves with others like we do now.

Now, many of us spend hours on our phones, feeling sad and empty because we can’t live the way social media says we should. It shows wide, bright houses perfectly organized with matching containers, expensive clothes, bags costing thousands of dollars – aperfect Pinterest life. But this is not real happiness. It’s just too much stuff.

Most people don’t live like this in real life. It’s not because they don’t want to, but because they can’t. So, what happens? We feel depressed, like we don’t measure up. We feel unsuccessful, behind in life, unhappy, and like failures.

Let me share some facts about India to help explain this. The average salary for a full-time worker in India is quite low. Many people work minimum wage jobs. Rent prices are rising. Prices for food and essentials keep going up. When we see people online living “their best lives” – showing off wealth, expensive clothes, fancy homes – it’s easy to feel left out or like we aren’t enough.

Most people are just trying to survive, paying rent and buying food. They simply cannot afford to buy all these expensive things or live in big fancy houses. Sure, some try to do things on a budget, but if you’re already struggling to make ends meet, where do you find the extra money?

Social media pushes us to buy more, do more, and be more– all to fit into different “aesthetic” categories. There are so many different aesthetics online, about 25 main ones! It’s crazy. People want to fit into these categories to feel accepted, but many cannot afford to.

One popular social media trend is called “that girl” aesthetic, which shows a perfect, put-together, successful lifestyle. It looks appealing. But what you don’t see is that many

Indians can’t live that way. People usually only show this lifestyle if they come from wealthy families or have been lucky enough to find success.

What about the rest of us? We need more content showing real, everyday lives. I’m happy to see more creators sharing “normal” life stories recently. It’s refreshing and much-needed.

Honestly, I think the idea of “aesthetic” has gone too far. It should just mean being normal. Being yourself. Not trying to fit into a perfect mould created by social media.

I want to share how social media has affected me personally. Many people are afraid to show their real lives online. They worry about being judged for not having fancy things or pretty homes. But it’s okay to be normal. It’s okay to accept where you are now and look forward to the future.

There’s a saying: “Social media is fake.” It’s true, but only if people are not honest about their real lives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others and losing gratitude for what we have.

This comparison is dangerous not only for our mental health but also for our spiritual well-being.

Some people are trying to normalize being normal. They share how they don’t always buy new clothes or live perfect lives. They show that it’s okay not to have everything social media tells us to want.

If you ever feel like you’re behind in life because you can’t afford things others have, remember – you are normal.

You don’t need all those things to be happy or worthy. Your worth is not in material things. It’s in your heart and how you treat others.

You can always work hard and strive for better, but if that’s not your reality right now, that’s okay.

Remember, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Social media has many benefits, but how we use it might be unhealthy. It used to be fun, a way to connect with people. Now, it often takes away our time, motivation, and mental health.

Look around – kids are on their phones instead of playing outside. Couples are on their phones instead of talking. Friends are on their phones instead of having fun together. This is happening everywhere.

Social media has reminded me that there’s so much life outside the phone. Things like living in the present, pursuing passions, and making memories are what truly matter.

So, again, if I asked you, “If you could live a life free from social media, would you?” For me, the answer is yes.

Life itself is a gift. But living life fully is a choice.

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