Recently, I watched a short documentary from the Guardian about Chinese women who travel to other countries, like the United States, hoping to become mothers. These women undergo fertility treatments abroad because it’s not possible for them to do so in their own country. It was a really fascinating topic. In the video, there was also a woman who worked as an influencer. What stuck with me the most was a short clip where she was super enthusiastic and happy while doing a live video for her followers. But as soon as the camera stopped, her cheerful attitude disappeared completely.
This woman was going through a tough time. Her boyfriend had cheated on her, and she really wanted children, which led her to seek fertility treatment abroad. This is not an easy thing to do, emotionally or physically. Even though she seemed to shine for the outside world, inside she was carrying a lot of sadness.
A comment in the video’s comment section has stayed with me ever since. Someone with the username mannyme2986 wrote:
‘’The influencer reminds me of something I have read recently: This is the generation with the happiest pictures and the saddest lives.’’
That remark really hit me because it says so much about the way we live today. When you look at platforms like Instagram, you constantly see the happiest and most colorful photos. People are smiling in beautiful places, from jungle adventures by waterfalls to fancy galas with all their friends. And it’s not just influencers – even in my own social circles, I see this happening more and more.
Take myself as an example: I would never post a sad photo when I don’t feel that great. But that one picture from a ski trip with all my friends? That goes online immediately. It’s a strange contrast because we often only show the beautiful and perfect parts, while life is, of course, so much more than that.
Still, I feel that Instagram has become a bit more diverse in recent years. There are more and more accounts trying to show the ‘real’ world, without filters or perfection. These users give a more honest view of life, where not everything is always sunshine and rainbows. One account I personally follow and love is @celestebarber. She is known for recreating glamorous celebrity photos, but with a hilariously realistic twist. She shows how far reality can be from what we see on social media.
But still, despite that, most people, including myself, still tend to share only the happy moments.
But the quote keeps coming back to me, and it’s something we should think about. It’s a big and complex topic, and this isn’t the moment to go deep into it, but one thing is clear: the online world is not always what it seems. It’s good to realize that what we see on social media is often a polished version of reality. Maybe it’s important to be more aware of this.
We live in a time where the appearance of happiness often seems more important than actual joy. And while platforms like Instagram allow us to capture and share beautiful moments, we shouldn’t forget that behind all those photos and videos, there can be very different stories.
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