We do not live in a Communist society, inequality is a fact of life. But social media makes everything seem even more unequal than it actually is.

Yes, the rich kids of Instagram are probably spending your annual salary in an evening, but the majority are those who attempt to imitate a wealthy lifestyle.

It did not happen unless it is on Instagram.

Ask any hotel concierge or boutique owner and they will tell you how many kids come in just to take an image in the lobby or dressing room and upload the image to social media

As if they were staying at the property or actually buying the things they have tried on.

Products can be purchased, photographed and returned; just because someone posts a picture from an expensive restaurant does not mean they ordered more than a coffee.

Do not let yourself be fooled – you are under no pressure to keep up with anyone’s online presence.

It is not even their real life.

Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram – oh, my! Nowadays, everyone is on social media. However, the positives of social media are overshadowed by the seemingly endless negatives of the platforms.

From addiction and mental health issues to jealousy and unhealthy comparisons, social media is ruining your life.

The top five social media platforms – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter – are associated with bullying, body image issues, and even the fear of missing out.

As well as being linked to depression and anxiety. Negative consequences are not equal for all.

In your quest to connect virtually, you disconnect from your reality.

Millennials and people in a relationship are the most likely to think social media worsened their life satisfaction.

In fact, young people are significantly more susceptible to the negative aspects of social media.

Those who believed social media worsened their lives were more likely to be women, millennials, Democrats, and from the West.

Coinciding with their tendency to be younger, those with this negative belief were also more likely to be unmarried and have an incomplete college degree.

Women use Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest more than their male counterparts.

A rise in mental health disorders among teens has been linked to social media.

And considering young adults make up the majority of platform users and are highly influenced by social acceptance, it makes sense that their perceptions of social media will differ.

Digital platforms bring people together, allowing them to keep in touch with family and friends.

However, societal pressures can seep through posts – Instagram portrays unrealistic images, while Snapchat shows life highlights and alters face shapes.

And while users may not notice these negatively affecting their self-esteem, stress, mood, and overall mental health, the consequences are ever-present.

While studies have found the negatives to be widespread, the majority of people do not notice them.