Social media can be hard to escape – nearly everyone (95%) ages 13-17 uses social media, and more than a third of young people say they use it “almost constantly.” While a lot of good can come from social media, it also allows us to be very aware of others’ lives and judge ours against theirs.

How Social Media Fuels Comparison

The tendency to compare yourself to others is normal. It’s human nature to look to others to guide your own thoughts and actions, and sometimes this can help provide inspiration or motivation. But online, we see what more people are doing more often than we would in real life, and it can make them seem “better” than us in some way. Algorithms play a role in this by promoting already-popular posts and content designed to go viral. You might not even realize these thoughts of comparison popping up as your mind moves just as fast as you scroll.

Common Comparison Traps

Tips To Avoid Social Comparison