It’s truly troubling how high the number of individuals feeling the need to bridge the gab between their daily life and their online persona, is. We are not just talking about lost teenagers, the phenomena of attempting to meet the harsh and/or even unrealistic standards of the so-called “ good life” has become so widely spread amongst all age groups, thus we ask ourselves, why? What is the reason behind the urge to create a new “cooler” version of us online on social media websites, such as Facebook and Instagram?

A Dutch student named Zilla, managed to intentionally trick her family and friends to believe she was on a five-week vacation in Southeast Asia, while she was actually in her own living room.

Studies show that an astonishing 80% - and above- of people stated their attempts of creating a more exciting version of themselves online, studies also express different and sometimes conflicted reasons as to why, some believe it’s our desire to impress others, a reflection of our inner insecurities or “present a positive self-view to others” which in return allegedly increases our own self confidence, according to a study titled “  “Are Close Friends the Enemy? Online Social Networks, Self-Esteem, and Self-Control,” carried out by professors Keith Wilcox of Columbia University and Andrew T. Stephen of the University of Pittsburgh.

At the end of the day, we shall try and remind ourselves that “To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.” Roy T. Bennett.

By Manar D. Barghouti