Here’s a thought: What if I told you that the very thing you enjoy scrolling through while sipping your morning coffee is slowly chipping away at your self-esteem?

You’d probably say, "No way!" But let’s be real here. Social media — that Instagram feed full of perfect beach bodies, spotless kitchens, and picture-perfect family moments — can be a silent saboteur to your self-confidence. And the craziest part? We willingly open that app, again and again, as if we’re signing up for a daily dose of “I’m not good enough.” 

I hear you……  social media can be fun. Who doesn’t love a good animal meme? But have you ever caught yourself staring at someone’s #fitness and thinking, “Why can’t I look like that?” Or scrolling through a perfectly curated #NoFilter post and comparing it to your not-so-flawless reality?

Spoiler alert: You’re not alone.

 I was totally shocked to know that recent studies have found that nearly 60% of people admit to feeling envious after spending time on social media. That’s more than half of us feeling worse off after what should be a relaxing activity! It’s a bit ironic, isn’t it? Research from the Royal Society for Public Health shows that Instagram is the worst social media platform for mental health, especially for young women. It’s like a double-edged sword. While social media connects us to friends, family, and even cool strangers, it can also leave us feeling inadequate. We log on to feel connected but end up feeling, well… disconnected from our own sense of self-worth.

I’ve been there too. You start scrolling for a few minutes and suddenly, you’re in this vortex of comparisons. Why does her hair always look so good? Where does she find the time to work out? What filter is that? Before you know it, you’re spiralling into a mini existential crisis, questioning every life choice.

 It’s not real. Social media is a highlight reel — all the best bits, none of the flaws. I mean, have you ever seen someone post a picture of the mountain of clothes they haven’t ironed in three days? (Actually, I have, and it made me feel good about my life!)

We tend to forget that behind the scenes, there’s a lot of lighting, angles, and maybe even a few apps doing a bit of digital magic. It’s easy to assume that everyone else has it all together while you’re barely keeping your plants alive. But believe me….. no one’s life is as perfect as their Instagram feed suggests.

So, what do we do about it? Throw away our phones? (Hell no I hear you say). But maybe, just maybe, we need to hit that pause button every now and then. Take a break from the filters, the likes, and the endless scroll. Remind yourself that what you see online is only one version of reality, and probably not the most accurate one.

Trust me, you’re doing just fine. And your life, with all its imperfections, is pretty awesome.

Thought for the day: What if we all started embracing our messy, unfiltered selves a little more? Imagine the boost to our collective self-esteem if we swapped perfection for authenticity. Let’s be real: Real life beats Insta-life every time.

Let’s keep scrolling mindfully!

Caroline’s daughter, Diahanne x