Break free in 2025: Beat the pressure of social media

A young woman on her phone. (Courtesy)

As we welcome the New Year, people everywhere whisper resolutions, scribble goals in journals and dream of better days ahead. There is a strong desire to be a better version of oneself. However, for many, these aspirations are shaped by an image-a flawless photo on Instagram, or Snapchat, a perfectly edited video on TikTok, or the enviable life of someone on Facebook. Social media has become a double-edged sword: it connects us to the world, but often traps us in a cycle of unhealthy comparison. In this filtered world, where reality hides behind clever edits and curated perfection, the challenge is to find the courage to embrace authenticity.

Social media is much like a house of mirrors at a carnival: step inside and your reflection twists and bends. In one mirror, you're impossibly tall; in another, unnaturally thin. It's funny because you know the distortion isn't real. Yet, on social media, the lines blur. Each scroll through your feed feels like walking past another warped mirror-every post seemingly perfect, every image a reminder of what you think you lack. The influencer with flawless skin, the blogger with the dream car, or the friend who always seems to be travelling the world might be reflections, not realities. Behind each post is a story you cannot see: the hours spent editing, the subtle choice of filters, the struggles hidden behind smiles, and the relentless pressure to maintain the illusion.