me & me & me & me

In the digital age of so-called social networks, selfie navel-gazing is omnipresent.
Everyone has to constantly hold their likeness up to the camera to prove what a supposedly exciting life they lead. The term ‘social network’ is a euphemism, especially as this type of communication alienates rather than brings people together and sometimes comes across as rather antisocial. It is well known that it is easier and more convenient to insult and bully people behind a screen without being face to face with them, and that everyone on the street, in the underground or even in a restaurant prefers to play on their smartphones rather than engage with real people.
The truth is that banalities are usually elevated to supposedly interesting news and constant proof that you yourself were present at some posted location. This actually generates the same image stereotypes over and over again, only live in front of a changing backdrop or photo wallpaper.
Perception is becoming increasingly distorted, as ‘the big picture’ is lost and life is only depicted in the form of unnatural and often soft-focus selfies and other image snippets on smartphones, tablets or computers - preferably only showing the ideal and aiming to arouse admiration or even envy, and in other cases dramatising and evoking pity.