I left Facebook because I was sick of showing off my perfectionism.

I have an average income, but I look at many beautiful photos, buy clothes and accessories, and travel to many places to take pictures and post them online.

Lately, I haven't been using social media as much as before. I even locked my Facebook page, stopped replying to messages, and spent all my free time reading books, watching movies, and playing with my little cat.

This change has slowed life down a bit, but it's become much more peaceful.

Having experienced the negative consequences of social media, I've come to realize that this app is merely a place for people to show off their perfection.

The more time I spend on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, etc., seeing all the happiness, gifts, and overflowing love that others have, the more I, a single person with nothing remarkable about me, feel sad, resentful, and even envious.

A few years ago, I became so addicted to social media that I missed out on many career opportunities, leading to despair and depression.

Owning stunning, meticulously edited photos that received countless likes and complimentary comments was my greatest desire at the time. Over time, this habit became an obsession.

I spent all my savings buying clothes and accessories to create Instagram-worthy photos, taking pictures at any location, from cafes and parks to train stations and shopping malls—places considered popular among young people on social media.

My boyfriend initially tried to accompany me to please me, but over time he got tired of it. Constantly holding the camera to cater to my "social media" obsession, he became irritable.

That was also the main reason for the constant conflicts and arguments between us. And in the end, I chose to break up with my boyfriend.

In the past, seeing other people happy made me feel sad and lonely - Photo: QUANG DINH

Teachers' salaries are only average, but I'm willing to spend millions of dong to hire professional photographers to take pictures and videos in various settings. And of course, after those stunning photos, I receive a "shower" of flattering compliments online.

My investment level has grown significantly as I've become willing to scrimp and save, eating instant noodles instead of rice, to hire an entire team, from makeup artists and photographers to drivers.

The consequence of those days spent chasing after a "virtual life" was huge debt, which I had to teach for a whole year just to be able to pay off.

Furthermore, during the time I was engrossed in "living virtually," I started neglecting my teaching duties, frequently arriving late and leaving early, and using my phone for personal matters. The school administration reminded me many times, but I still didn't change, until a student had an accident because of my negligence.

Several other things also happened. The shock left me disoriented for a long time. And when I had the chance to calm down, I realized how lost and unstable my life had become because of my dependence on the virtual world .

I decided to quit social media, lock my profile for a few days, and now I have so much more free time.

My emotions are no longer dependent on icons or public praise and criticism. I can sleep until noon, eat my favorite food, watch a movie that many people criticize... I realize that not many people search for me or notice that I've "disappeared." It turns out I'm not important enough for the whole world to frantically search for and care about me.

I focused on returning to living for myself, finding more valuable connections for my real life.

What do you think about sharing joy and happiness on social media? Do you think happiness should be kept private for oneself and loved ones? Please share your views by emailing tto@tuoitre.com.vn. Tuoi Tre Online thanks you.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/toi-roi-facebook-vi-ngan-chung-khoe-khoang-hoan-hao-20240306155805572.htm