Himanshu Guru
People love to present the brighter side of their lives and hide the darker side. This is a common human instinct. After the advent of the internet, and especially Facebook, the concept is today revealed in online behaviour too. In the age of social media, Facebook timelines have become a parade of other people’s smiling babies, idyllic holidays, culinary miracles or stellar career moves. Of the users some think Facebook is a place to constantly tell the world how absolutely fabulous their lives are. For them Facebook is Brag Book. Sunday POST chats with psychiatrists and social media analysts on online bragging and why it has become boisterous and irritating.
“To say something in a boastful way is to brag and using Facebook as a platform to brag is called Face brag,” says Dr Pranab Mahapatra, a Doctor of Medicine from the Central Institute of Psychiatry in Ranchi. “I had a wonderful evening dining out with my old friends’. ‘That’s my new car.’ ‘That’s me receiving the best performer award a second time’. All these posts show you in a great state of achievement. You feel high among friends and posting them can elevate your self-esteem. You count the likes and note the comments. They drive you to self deception. A job, trip, purchase or anything else that nobody really needs to know is posted. A virtual picture of the self and the world takes shape in the mind,” he explained.
Dr Mahapatra is currently associated with the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences and Sparsh and Hemalata Hospitals in Bhubaneswar. “Photos and posts show your bright moments. They hide the sad and difficult ones. Nobody posts a sad, mournful moment except to derive sympathy. Conversely, a friend’s happy moment post may make you feel jealous and low,” he said.
“Some people post photos and selfies with important individuals. Evidence of standing among them comes in the message. Look, I am important too – that is the message. This is the social media equivalent of name-dropping, the practice of mentioning important people in a talk. Face bragging thus works on our inherent desire to gain approval, or even admiration, from the people around us,” Dr Mahapatra added, while contesting its necessity.
“Excessive Facebook use is a type of behavioural addiction,” said Dr Jayprakash Russell Ravan, an associate professor of psychiatry at KIMS in Bhubaneswar. Asked about the reasons and repercussions of Face bragging, the doctor explained: “This is a psychological problem. Due to low self esteem people often try to brag.”
Dr Ravan claims such ‘behavioural addiction’ is a psychological issue. “We mostly see two categories of Facebook users – ‘over-sharers’ and ‘silent stalkers’. Face braggers fall in the first category. They love to share their holidays, festivals, night outs, family events and almost everything else with the rest of the world. They seize every chance of showcasing their grand dinners online for thousands of friends and relatives,” he said.
“If you scroll through their Facebook news feed it would appear that they are having the ‘Best Day Ever’ seven days a week and 365 days a year, which is practically impossible. And this puts a negative impact in the minds of others,” said Rojalin Mishra, a social media analyst based in the state capital.
She explained: “Face braggers show in their posts that the sun is always shining on them and every day is a holiday. They never post about the stress of losing their jobs, their irritable bowel syndrome or how they struggle in a cockroach-sized rented apartment. They still post: ‘Off to Ramoji Film City… third vacation this year’.”
The effect of such posts on others is not always positive. Dr Russell says: “Facebook response-related mood swings are common. If somebody gets more likes he gets elated and excited and continues to indulge in this addictive behavior. On the other hand, the user who doesn’t get virtual appreciation on social media feels rejected and isolated, which might lead to anger, irritation, self-doubt and depression.”
“Face brag also affects family life,” said Sakina Banoo, a social media analyst who lives in Bhubaneswar. She says: “While the old maxim that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence is always a feeling in conjugal relationships, social media has helped take discontent to new lows. People witness progress or cheerful lives of others and compare it with theirs. Husbands want their wives to look like models or like the most beautiful Facebook women friend they have, and vice versa. But these are impractical considerations.”
“People should not go by Face bragging. We should not care so much about other people’s online lives! Real life is much more important,” said Banoo. “We certainly can’t deny the human urge to impress others. It is universal. Often people buy stuff not because they really need it but to project that they are economically equal compared to others in the social circle or neighbourhood. This habit has great impact on others. People rush to buy the latest gadgets or purchase latest home décor to show off status,” said Rojalin.
“Addiction expert David Smallwood says in his book ‘Who Says I’m an Addict’ that social media essentially allows us to present ourselves as mini-celebrities, controlling how we want the world to see us. It’s undeniable that social media has a huge impact on mental health. As per studies, high usage can shorten our attention span, induce stress and fatigue, suppress emotions, disconnect us from reality, cause a decline in our intellect and, ironically, make us less sociable,” Rojalin added.
