Do Instagram Likes Matter? Dealing With the Pressures of Social Media

Life is stressful enough as we juggle our health, relationships, careers, and finances. But another thing is putting unnecessary strain on our lives: social media.

Social media may seem harmless. After all, it's just a bunch of photos and videos people upload online. But we don't realize our mental health suffers as we scroll endlessly on our phones. The prevalence of social media in today's society puts pressure on us to build a 'perfect' online image. We now have to worry about Instagram likes and other social media metrics on top of everything else on our plates.

So why do we spend hours a day checking our social media accounts? Why are we so invested in social media signals? It has a lot to do with social media's reinforcing nature.

Getting new followers, likes, and comments on Instagram and other platforms triggers our brains' reward center, causing it to release a feel-good hormone called dopamine. It's the same chemical produced during pleasurable activities like eating and socializing. Social media is addictive to users, and creators designed these platforms to be that way.

Think of Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms as slot machines. Players keep pulling the lever because there's always the possibility of winning big money. They wouldn't keep at it if there's no probability of a future reward.

It's the same with social media. When you publish a post, you don't know how many likes or comments you'll get. You don't know who will interact with your post and when. But the uncertainty of it and the prospect of getting a 'prize' in the end is addicting. So we keep posting and refreshing our feeds, hoping for notifications of getting new likes and followers each time.

Aside from the dopamine rush we get from gaining followers, likes, and comments, there are other psychological reasons behind our addiction to social media. These platforms provide a sense of community, belonging, and acceptance that many of us long for. It feels as if we're creating meaningful connections with people around us. Humans are social creatures, and social media seems to fulfill our need for interaction and companionship. Or so we think.

The Adverse Effects of Social Media on Mental Health

While there are benefits to social media, there's a price to pay, too. Many depend on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms to stay connected. After all, they're supposed to be tools that bring us closer together. But what users don't realize is that social media can't replace real-life human interactions. We must see our family and friends in the flesh and form close bonds with them to feel happy and healthy. As ironic as it is, spending too much time on social media can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, sadness, and dissatisfaction. It can even aggravate mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Another pitfall to be aware of is the amount of comparison that comes with social media usage. Every time you scroll on Instagram or Facebook, you see how 'perfect' other people's lives are. They're excelling at work and making a name for themselves. They're building their homes and families. They're traveling the world. Their follower counts are so high that you're wondering if they're buying followers.

And yet, here you are, struggling with your problems. You start to feel insecure and behind in life. The comparison game can even extend to the way you look. You feel bad about yourself because you're not as fit as your peers or don't dress as nicely as them. It's additional stress and pressure that no one needs in their life.

Then, there's the fear of missing out. There's something about social media that fuels our need to feel included. We hate to see others having fun without us. We always want to be in on the jokes. We always want to be invited to parties and events. We feel compelled to keep up, liking and commenting on everyone's posts and responding to messages immediately. That causes the stress and anxiety to build, taking a toll on our mental health.

The harmful effects of social media can hit anyone, whether you're an impressionable teen or a full-grown adult.

Why Social Media Isn't Real Life

Everyone manipulates social media to some degree. We edit our photos to make ourselves look more attractive. We crop out the messy areas of our home. We only post the best parts of our lives for everyone to see, deliberately omitting our problems and failures. Almost everything on social media is staged and curated and mustn't be mistaken for real life.

There are many ways to create a 'perfect' image of yourself on social media. You can even purchase Instagram likes, followers, and views. It's a fast way to boost your numbers on social media and present a more popular version of yourself. Reputable providers like Blastup and Stormlikes.com can give you the Instagram follower count you've been dreaming of and add views and likes to your photos and videos.

Because social media and real life are two different things, it doesn't make sense to tie your happiness or self-worth to your follower count or the number of likes, views, and comments you get on your posts. Your social media numbers don't define how successful or valuable you are as a real human being. It's not worth sacrificing your mental health for the false reality of social media.

You don't need to stress over social media metrics because it's just a numbers game. And anyone can play. You can quickly get the digits you want by buying them from trustworthy sources. For example, Blastup offers unique Instagram followers and real likes and views from active profiles.

Stormlikes is another provider you can consider, offering real likes for Instagram posts. These companies have various pricing packages, letting you grow your Instagram accounts without overstepping your budget. Here's a deep dive into these two providers to help you choose.

When you're not worrying about your numbers on social media, you can channel your energy toward more meaningful things. You can focus on building relationships, doing activities you love, and creating value in the real world.

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