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The “Perfect” Online Profile

By: Roy Cui - 10006927

Facebook and other social media websites are UNDOUBTELY the perfect avenues for SHARING

pictures and life events with friends.

Image: MF (Flickr)

People are going to show off the BEST of their lives and their FAVOURITE moments.

Social media is for SOCIAL MOMENTS, so everyone is going to be FOCUSING on the COOLEST MOMENTS

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When people go on Facebook they’re often CRAFTING a persona – they’re portraying themselves

at their HAPPIEST

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Technology is ADAPTING, providing us with BETTER tools to present our SELF-IMAGE

Image: Simon Young (Flickr)

We have now the ability to CHANGE our look, and also MASK our identity

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No one would share the BAD, DEPRESSING part of their lives

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This creates a type of SOCIAL CENSORSHIP, an ILLUSION of a perfect life that everyone lives in.

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Some people then “PROJECT – and CONSUME – IDEALIZED images through Facebook”

Image: Weste McGowen

Researches show that the MASS PROLIFERATION of so-called “perfect lives” on Facebook can cause

rampant ENVY and DISTRESS

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Humans are NATURALLY competitive and social media platforms ENCOURAGE social comparison

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Studies showed that 1 in 3 respondents felt more DISSATISFIED with their own lives AFTER spending

time on the site

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Viewing the number of BIRTHDAY GREETINGS and “LIKES” were big culprits

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Unprecedented access to other people’s photos also triggered EMOTIONAL PAIN and RESENTMENT

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These picture – perfect images can be especially difficult for teenagers to grapple with because

they’re often HYPER-CONSIOUS of MEASURING UP to their peers

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It’s a tender and CRITICAL stage in life – a time for forming an understanding of who you are

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And 73% of teens are on a social network

Image: Michael B. (Flickr)

But this issue did not just come out with the rise of social media, it’s in our HUMAN NATURE to appear

the BEST in front of others

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Social Media only BROADENED the aspects of our lives which can be compared with and shown to

others

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As time goes on, this problem will be more MAGNIFIED

Image: Athena Workman (Flickr)

So how PERFECT is your online image?

Image: Rishi Bandopadnay (Flickr)

Sources

• http://www.wbur.org/2013/02/20/facebook-perfection

• http://www.thegrindstone.com/2013/04/23/work-life-balance/does-social-media-affect-your-self-esteem/

• http://www.forbes.com/sites/jmaureenhenderson/2012/07/11/is-social-media-destroying-your-self-esteem/