Social Media: The Real vs. The Facade

Many of us watch strangers live their lives on social media instead of living our own. But when we scroll, what is actually real, and what is staged or highly manipulated? And, how does seeing photos of people mostly living their "very best lives" affect our mental health? Amy, a mom and widow of 15 years, says she is so busy with work that she relies on social media for companionship. However, Amy admits she gets envious seeing others having a fabulous time while she's stuck being alone. Influencers Talitha and Megan admit that they have both staged and filtered photos so much that they don't portray their real lives. Megan says she found being an influencer so toxic for her mental health, she decided to take a social media break. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Zoya says she wants to be an influencer and understands that most of what is online is manipulated by others to get views. Performance Artist Matty Mo explains how he built a fake private plane interior, "The Private Jet Experience," for people to stage photos as a social commentary about influencers. And, Cyber Security Expert James McGibney explains how algorithms are designed to intentionally hook people into social media and create an addiction.