Maybe it’s a happy couple, toes in the sand, on a Grecian beach vacation. Or that family who always seems to be hiking together, no one ever complaining about the hot sun and how long it’s going to take to get back to the car. Maybe it’s even that perfect meal, expertly plated on a busy weeknight.
These images of contentment and positivity can easily leave some who see them on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook feeling as if everyone else is enjoying life more fully.
The U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, warned this week that while social media can be beneficial to some people, evidence suggests that it may pose a "profound risk of harm” to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.