The Trap of Seeking Validation Social media promises us connection and interactions – but more often the case, it makes one feel worse about themselves and their life- an internal self. The chain of validation-seeking feels good, but it must be conquered for the right reasons. Here’s why it’s important to avoid the trap of validation on facebook, and twitter and constantly scrolling.

The Hidden Struggle

It’s part of our innate nature, as human beings, to desire acceptance and approval, however on social media this fragile need is increase to the degree where our happiness and state of mind is dependent on the number of likes, comments, and shares of the posts. The more people stare at their cells and observe their posts, the more pleasure they will be able to receive and the opposite with silence. This pressure – of striving to be one person while being presented with someone else`s ideal composition on social media – can be, in most cases, very recognizably tiresome.

Why Social Media Validation is So Addictive

After all, I may be empty, but at least I have views. There’s always that little high in grabbing one more follower, which is what constantly draws us in. And as for the sites, that’s just exactly what they were built for. They establish a habit called “intermittent reinforcement,” in which likes and comments become variable rewards that consistently repeat, and in addition they create expectations that validate new posts and photos.

But when approval is consistently not forthcoming, it can begin to erode one's sense of self.

Understanding the Consequences

There is an epiphany that many individuals undergo and in most cases, it is inexplicably so. It could be the let-down one feels after a particular post fails to attract views or the realization that there is too much thought put in the future course of posts. This realization is gut-wrenching particularly when one fancies that their online engagements is the defining aspect of their joy.

The Pursuit of Verbal or Vocal Validation in Social Media as a Lose-Win Situation

The price one pays for social media in terms of seeking approval is not only a handful of unhelpful updates,

It is something worse. The demands of getting that picture just has to be right, invites every social situation that one sees through the dimensions of the perfect picture and not the picture itself, according to three simple stardom signals. One such picture stealing aspect is a happy picture and this easy equation pushes individuals to constantly aspire and wish for something that they do not possess hence condemning them to darkness.

The Genuine Treasure: Realization of the Self

When we give up the quest of seeking appreciation through social media, we can now concentrate on that which gives us real happiness. Often, it is not so much of a big deal—dinner with family, accomplishing something, or just moments spent in a still environment where it is not necessary to have an audience in order to derive satisfaction from the activity itself.

Walking Away from Social Media In Short: Social media is a tool, and not a mirror with which one should judge oneself. The biggest prize is in the ability to look within one’s mind and emotions instead of wasting time in social networks. By looking at the social networks less, we can restore our time, self-esteem, and emotional wellbeing and see the world through our own eyes rather than through a filter.