Just my experience - but I think a large piece of this has to do with many of us join “social media” or a forum. We get excited at first to be able to see our current and new friends, it’s this feeling of opening a massive conduit to see the people you know and like / feel a sense of belonging. Facebook started as a college app - college is probably when some people are the most social. But after a long time, friends drift, I have so many people on social media that I haven’t actually had a conversation with in years but still see their updates. I feel like my addiction is rooted in the desire to connect with people, to see friends. There isn’t a physical place that makes sense to do so to get the same thing (bar, church, common room, whatever) so I go on social media to see those people, then realize I don’t have anything to message them over because it’s been years, and doom scroll. Engagement converted.
I see your point about the “romanticised version of themselves” and that’s what comes up for me - curious if anyone else feels the same.
I see your point about the “romanticised version of themselves” and that’s what comes up for me - curious if anyone else feels the same.