What’s Behind the Filter?

By Ishani

Ever looked at a picture or a video and wondered, ‘why can’t I have the life she has?’ or ‘why can’t I look the way she looks?’ or ‘why aren’t my grades like hers?’. Every day we navigate the virtual paths of flawless and aesthetic pictures that we all want to have. Amid this  lies a small thing called imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is a feeling of constant inadequacy, self-doubt and thinking that you’re not good enough, or that you’re a fraud, even though you might have genuine achievements.

We feel the constant urge to keep our social lives in the most flawless and impeccable way possible and tend to worry that if the image isn’t kept up then we would have to face rejection and serious judgment from our friends.

The instant gratification that we get from social media also accelerates the feeling of being an imposter. If we don’t get enough likes or comments, then we immediately associate it with not being good enough and self-doubt. This thought, in turn, has a really bad impact on our self-esteem.

What might start out as a small feeling of being not enough may become constantly questioning your ability to do something, no matter how small. Sometimes even being of a certain culture in a different cultural setting, (like Raj Koothrapalli in big bang theory) drives this feeling of being inadequate. No matter how many years a person might spend in a different cultural setting there is always a small part of them that feels like they're an outsider. I feel that correct representation makes a difference to people but that's still not seen enough.  We need to remember that the number of likes and comments are not what represents us.

To get over imposter syndrome or help control it, we should make it a habit to talk to people about our negative feelings, mental health, and  self-esteem. We should also learn to love ourselves for who we are.

And so, dear reader, let this be a gentle reminder that behind every picture-perfect post lies a person with fears, insecurities, and dreams. In the age of social media, where likes dictate self-worth, may you all find comfort in knowing that your true value lies not in the number of followers you have or the likes and comments you get, but in the depth of your own self-love and acceptance.

About the author:

Ishani is a 17 year old avid reader. She is a huge Formula 1 fan and an even bigger foodie. She enjoys playing music 24/7 and rainy days bring her immense comfort.