Eckhart Tolle argues that modern social media technologies perpetuate a delusion that the external world (other people’s curated posts and filtered photos) can satisfy inner needs. In this excerpt he highlights curated images of satisfaction (food, beauty) and photo filters as mechanisms that generate upward social comparison and consequent dissatisfaction with one’s own life.
The delusion that the world could possibly satisfy you is perpetuated by the technology that we've come up with. Because when you go on Facebook and similar platforms, you see all these humans who have achieved total satisfaction in their photos, and they eat one great meal after another because they photos of them, look what I'm eating now. And that's not enough. Another deception comes in, because there are filters you use for the photos, and these filters make everybody beautiful. And then you look at them, say, look at these people's lives. They're so great. What about my life?
Why alcohol feels like relief, and what it is really giving you | Eckhart Tolle
