Do you know any people who are as happy in real life as on social media?

Wanderer2010

Social media, for the most part, is a fake representation of your actual lived experience. Its often been said that Instagram and Facebook are highlight reels from a persons life designed to present an image of perfection and happiness. Like the 50 deleted snaps before the perfect selfie, the smiling family at a wedding a few hours before they turn on each other etc.

However, as with most things, there are exceptions. I know of a lovely young couple who are always laughing and joking, they bring their phone everwhere with them and updating the world about communions, pub quizzes, holidays etc. I live next door to them and have only heard laughter and normal chat. Thats not to say they dont have problems but from what i see, their real and virtual worlds are very close.

Do you know anybody like that who seem to have the same life in reality to that of social media?

One can never be 100% sure about what goes on in the real life backgrounds of people, but in general I observe that people like to put forward the aspect of their lives they want others to most focus on.

I have a fairly drab everyday life, and have lots of moments of feeling sad and depressed. Usually on FB I end up re-sharing aviation video reels etc, as I have an interest in that, but when it comes to my own stuff that generally waits until I go on holidays, then I share lots of pictures which I take. Mostly not of myself, but the odd one gets thrown in. I’m telling people “look at the lively place I’m in”. But day to day I seldom put the focus on me, cos it would be tediously uninteresting.

I do notice some others incessantly smiling in front of camera every day in their lives. One such person I knew as a child was very shy and unassuming, was smaller than other people in class etc. now a very confident person, although I know of deep sadnesses they have in life. They have learned to put on a face. Sometimes people do that simply to boost morale, and it’s no harm. Very often behind the jolly pictures there’s sadness because life holds so much of it for most people.

There’s an ever smiling couple I don’t know very well, friend of friend sort of thing, and I think they genuinely are a very upbeat and happy couple. She does a lot of very good work to help others in her job, and I think that sort of thing brings genuine happiness, but her job also briefs a lot of sorrow and grief as clients die. It is said by some psychologists that smiling can help relieve stress, so I suppose putting best foot forward helps.

Other unhappy individuals may find it all a bit much and fake, and wish they could adopt the same approach to life as seen on social media as a means to “feeling better”. Sone times I can’t stand these smiling faces, other times I do the same myself and post up for better or for worse. Sometimes I comment that I’m feeling sad, worried, scared.

z80CPU

I know a fella since primary school days in the early 80s.

Up until 2018 he ran a YouTube channel in conjunction with other Troll channels with no public videos of its own used solely for trolling other YouTubers.

Then Shut down by YouTube that year.

In 2023 hasn't affected him in the slightest he's recession proof. Popular as ever with within his own class year clique.

Social media echoes and magnifies people’s innate tribalism, tendency to grandstand and showboat. Can be used for good, ie to get people alongside a good cause like funding/building a community unit, or for virtual “warfaring” purposes. Sometimes it’s so very unsubtle it’s amusing to observe.

Thespoofer

Needy people.

Ubbquittious

I know someone who was always fierce happy and fierce positive altogether, anything bad that happened to them wasn't dwelled upon and was like water off a ducks back. Had plenty of money, kids, big house, new car every couple of years, everything was great for about 25 years and then it all went bang. Divorced now and after taking up the sauce big time last I heard

StevenToast

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058303247/do-you-know-any-people-who-are-as-happy-in-real-life-as-on-social-media

When that "lovely young couple" have kids, it will fairly soften their cough....its easy to be nice when you are getting your hole regularly with a full nights sleep behind you....