Coromind - Issue 34 - October25 - Coromandel's Collaborative Magazine - Flipbook - Page 19
LIVING FOR LIKES
The mental health impact of the curated self
When you scroll through your social media feeds – whether
it’s Facebook, Instagram, or even LinkedIn – what do you see?
Probably a lot of carefully chosen sel昀椀es, success stories, and
perfectly edited moments. These aren’t just snapshots of everyday
life; they’re examples of what experts call the ‘curated self’. But
what does that mean, and why should we care?
The concept of the curated self is all about how we present
ourselves online. Just like a museum curator selects the best
pieces to put on display, we do the same thing with our social
media pro昀椀les. We pick the coolest photos, the funniest memes,
and the most exciting life updates to show the world. The result is
a polished, perfect version of ourselves – one that doesn’t match
up with who we are o昀툀ine.
For example, on Facebook, you might post pictures from your
beach trip, share a funny meme, or lol about your friend’s
bawdy hen’s night. It’s casual, laid-back, and usually shows o昀昀
your personal life. On LinkedIn, though, it’s a whole di昀昀erent
story. Here, people craft professional pro昀椀les, listing their
achievements, career milestones, and skills. This platform is
more like a virtual CV than a social hangout. Instead of sharing
what you did over the weekend, you’re more likely to highlight
that certi昀椀cate you earned or the promotion you got at work.
You might have many sides to your personality, but social media
forces you to package yourself di昀昀erently for each audience.
Problems arise when the two versions of you ‘bleed’ outside
the platform. LinkedIn users experience anxieties based on
concerns around the personal and social risks associated with
personal data that may be algorithmically linked to other digital
spaces with little or no regulation or boundaries. You de昀椀nitely
don’t want a potential employer to be confronted with images of
that bawdy hen’s night back in 2018!
This need to curate your online persona can create a lot of
pressure, especially for young people. The more you edit and
polish your posts, the more you start comparing yourself to
Coromind | 28
others who are doing the same. It’s easy to fall into the trap
of thinking everyone else has a perfect life – one that’s more
successful, more exciting, or more glamorous than yours.
This cycle can lead to feelings of inadequacy or anxiety. Studies
show that scrolling through picture-perfect feeds can make people
feel like they don’t measure up, causing stress and contributing to
mental health issues like depression and eating disorders.
The curated self doesn’t just a昀昀ect how others see you – it can also
change how you see yourself. When you start living for the likes,
comments and shares, it’s easy to lose touch with who you really
are. Over time, this blurs the line between what’s real and what’s
staged. This can lead to burnout and feelings of inauthenticity.
So, what can you do to break free from this cycle of curation
and self-comparison? First, it helps to be aware of what’s
happening. Know that what you see online is only a tiny, carefully
selected part of someone’s life. It’s not the whole picture. Second,
try to use social media in a way that feels authentic to you. Share
what genuinely matters, rather than what you think will get the
most attention.
Lastly, take breaks. It’s easy to get sucked into the never-ending
scroll, but stepping back can help you reconnect with your true
self – outside the digital world.
The curated self might be the reality of social media, but it doesn’t
have to control you. By being mindful of how you present yourself
and how you react to others, you can take charge of your online
identity and make social media a space for genuine connection,
not just performance. After all, the real you is more interesting
and complex than any pro昀椀le could ever capture.
Words by
Stella Pennell
Coromind.nz | 18
