This is a comment from a discussion on Hacker News. I posted it here to get corrections. Also, I think it's an interesting topic, so feel free to open a discussion if you want

Discussed article: https://www.calnewport.com/blog/2022/05/16/taking-a-break-from-social-media-makes-you-happier-and-less-anxious/

Comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31406779

The thought that I have overcome about this is that SM is different from the examples that you gave. In magazines or TV, you assume that is going to be filled with "non-real" people (esthetic surgeries...), but at the end of the day, you will be surrounded by people like you.

At parties, school, or at the beach, yes you can find some perfect people, but the vast majority are going to be just normal people like you.

SM is different for that, you are comparing every nuance of you with an adulterated version of normal people (just people like you, not famous people). Personally, SM makes me feel that everybody except me has an ideal life and I know that's not true.

I don't like the "social" aspect of social media, I like the "media" part though. I like to follow photographers, use to follow some type of hobby, but not to see people's life.