Instagram’s Illusions | Breaking Real Connections

Dr Vikas Sharma
In today’s world, social media plays a huge role in shaping how people live and interact. Platforms like Instagram have become more than just a way to connect with friends; they are now a space where people share their lives, seek validation, and escape from reality. With notifications, likes, and comments constantly pulling us in, it’s easy to get lost in the digital world. But behind the perfect pictures and endless scrolls, there’s a hidden cost that many don’t see-a growing disconnection from real life, real relationships, and genuine moments.
Many young people today have thousands of followers on Instagram, but when they need someone to talk to in real life, there’s no one to call. They are surrounded by fake perfection-perfect photos, perfect lives, and perfect feeds. But behind the shiny posts, a different story is unfolding. The truth is, many are lonely and looking for something real, but all they get is a fake world of likes and followers. It all begins with a simple “Hey” in the message inbox. That one small message triggers hours of scrolling, watching reels, and waiting for more replies. Every message brings hope, and soon enough, they invest their emotions into these online chats. Over time, it feels like something real is growing. But the truth is, it’s not.
The reality hits hard when the messages start to slow down or stop altogether. What was once a fun chat becomes “breadcrumbing”-a game of giving just enough attention to keep someone hooked, but not enough to make them feel loved or wanted. This makes people wait for more. They get stuck in the cycle of hoping, waiting, and wondering when the next message will come. But then, there’s ghosting. It’s when someone disappears without a trace, leaving the other person confused and hurt. They sit there, rereading old messages, wondering what went wrong. They wonder if they said something wrong or if they just weren’t good enough. This emptiness starts to grow. Instead of feeling better, they feel worse. They feel drained. They feel invisible.
Social media, especially Instagram, tricks people into believing that the perfect lives they see online are real. The reels, the quotes, the romantic scenes-they all look so perfect. It’s easy to get lost in the illusion that this is what real life should look like. But the truth is far from it. People get caught up in chasing the perfect partner or the perfect life, always looking for something better, but never finding it. The more people chase these online dreams, the more they feel empty. They forget what real love, friendship, and success look like. They become obsessed with followers, likes, and comments. They want to impress people online, but when the camera is off, they feel alone. When they need real connections, they only have empty screens and silence.
But there’s another twist to this story. When someone dares to call out this behavior, the charming and innocent persona often changes. Suddenly, the person turns manipulative, making the other feel guilty or unsure. They play games with emotions and twist the truth to make themselves look like the victim. This kind of behaviour isn’t just confusing-it’s toxic. Life used to be about real connections. People had dreams, goals, and genuine relationships. Now, it’s about followers, likes, and pictures that look perfect on a screen. The cost of this new world is high: time, self-worth, and emotional health. People spend more time scrolling than living. They invest their energy into fake friendships and relationships that nothing to offer in return.
What about the person left waiting? They sit there, scrolling through old messages, wondering why they weren’t enough. They wait and wait for a reply that never comes. They search for answers in the digital world, but the truth is, they may never get them. The sad truth is that Instagram and social media have taken over. They control how people feel, think, and behave. They make it easy to pretend everything is fine, even when it’s not. The reality is that this world of reels and filters isn’t real. It’s just a mask. And the longer people wear it, the more they lose touch with what’s important in life.
It’s easy to get stuck in this cycle. The constant need to check the phone, the desire for more likes, and the need for constant validation create a never-ending loop. People begin to live for the next post, the next story, the next comment, instead of living for the moment. The real world, with its imperfections and unfiltered moments, becomes a distant memory. People scroll through posts of friends having the time of their lives, seemingly living their best, perfect life. They start comparing themselves to others. “Why am I not living like that?” “What’s wrong with me?” It becomes harder to distinguish what’s real from what’s staged. People start feeling less and less satisfied with their own lives, constantly chasing something they will never find.
It’s not just about how many followers one has or how many likes a picture gets. It’s about the deep connection and validation we all need as humans. But that validation can’t be found through the screen. It can only be found in real, human interactions, with people who understand, care, and share true feelings.
In today’s fast-paced world, family members live in different homes, leading to isolation and sometimes emotional irritation. Gone are the days when the entire family gathered around the dining table, where conversations flowed freely, and support was just a room away. Now, people are more likely to feel alone, even in the same city. Family bonds are stretched thin, and this impacts not only the connection between family members but also their emotional well-being.
The result of this separation is a rise in irritability, frustration, and a sense of being emotionally drained. People feel disconnected, not only from friends they once felt close to but also from the very family members who were meant to be their support system. This shift in family dynamics has contributed to an increasing sense of loneliness and emotional exhaustion, further magnified by the constant, yet hollow, validation sought on social media.
So, here’s the big question: Is it time to stop living for Instagram? Is it time to say goodbye to the endless scroll and fake perfection? Maybe it’s time to turn off the notifications, log out of Instagram, and reconnect with the real world. Because the real world is where true happiness, love, and connections exist-not in a feed.
But breaking free isn’t easy. It takes self-awareness and courage to step away from the constant pull of social media. It’s hard to walk away when everything seems so fun and easy. But the truth is, it’s all an illusion. It’s easy to get caught up in the glamour of Instagram, but it’s not where the best moments of life happen. The best moments are the ones that can’t be captured in a photo or shared in a post.
So, next time you find yourself scrolling, ask yourself: What am I really looking for here? Is this really adding value to my life? Or is it just another distraction from the reality I’m trying to escape? Maybe it’s time to stop living for likes and start living for life itself.

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