When folks showcase an expensive way of life on-line

In right this moment’s digital age, social media has turn out to be greater than only a platform for staying related.

It has remodeled right into a stage the place tendencies are born, life are showcased and identities are constructed.

In Malaysia, as in lots of components of the world, we’ve got seen an rising development of celebrities and influencers flaunting luxurious possessions, be it designer purses, luxurious vehicles, branded clothes or lavish holidays.

While such shows might seem innocent at first look, their cumulative impact on the psychological well being of society is much extra complicated and regarding.

As the Malaysian Mental Health Association president, I consider it’s important to focus on the hidden penalties of this development – to not criticise people, however to boost consciousness of its broader social and psychological affect.

I additionally urge influencers and celebrities, who’ve a major affect on their followers, to be conscious of the content material they share and its potential results on psychological well being.

The tradition of comparability

Human beings are social creatures, wired to match themselves with others.

Psychologists name this the social comparability idea.

In the previous, comparisons have been largely confined to neighbours, colleagues or friends.

Today, nonetheless, social media has exponentially widened the scope of comparability.

With only a swipe, one is uncovered to a curated world of luxurious, magnificence and success.

When celebrities and influencers continually showcase their wealth on-line, it units unrealistic benchmarks for achievement and happiness.

For bizarre Malaysians, a lot of whom are combating the rising value of dwelling, job insecurity or monetary debt, this countless comparability can result in emotions of inadequacy, envy and low self value.

It perpetuates the damaging notion that materials wealth is the last word measure of success, overshadowing values comparable to laborious work, kindness and neighborhood spirit.

The phantasm of perfection

What is commonly missed is that social media is a spotlight reel, not actuality.

The luxurious automotive parked in entrance of a mansion could also be borrowed for a photoshoot, or the branded purse may very well be sponsored in change for content material.

Yet, to the viewer, these photos mission an phantasm of a flawless, glamorous life.

Young Malaysians are notably weak to this distortion.

Adolescents and younger adults are at a stage of identification formation, the place they give the impression of being outward for validation and function fashions.

Constant publicity to such content material creates unhealthy aspirations, pushing them to equate happiness with possessions relatively than function, relationships or private progress.

The hyperlink between heavy social media use and rising ranges of tension, melancholy and physique dissatisfaction is effectively established.

The flaunting of luxurious provides one other layer.

It exacerbates monetary stress by pushing folks right into a cycle of sustaining life they can’t afford.

When influencers painting luxurious life as regular, it normalises overspending.

Young Malaysians might really feel compelled to buy costly gadgets to mission an analogous picture on-line.

This aspirational spending usually comes at a heavy value.

Credit card debt, private loans and the misuse of simple on-line financing schemes have turn out to be more and more frequent.

The psychological toll of monetary pressure is immense.

It fuels stress, sleeplessness and household battle, and in extreme circumstances, results in melancholy and suicidal ideas.

It is not any coincidence that lately, monetary stress has been cited as one of many main contributors to psychological well being issues in Malaysia.

The tradition of flaunting luxurious, whether or not consciously or not, is fanning this flame.

The reason behind resentment

Beyond particular person psychological well being, this development additionally impacts social cohesion.

Social media flaunting deepens the divide between the “haves” and the “have-nots”.

It stirs discontent amongst those that really feel excluded from the glamorous life they see on-line.

Exposure to well-known personalities nonchalantly tapping to music whereas deliberately displaying their costly watches, or casually flaunting ridiculously pricey vehicles, might result in resentment relatively than awe and admiration.

In occasions of financial problem, such shows can gas anger and frustration.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, when many Malaysians have been struggling to place meals on the desk, some celebrities’ ostentatious shows of wealth sparked public backlash.

This resentment, if unchecked, weakens the sense of solidarity that Malaysians have lengthy taken pleasure in.

Societies thrive on empathy, shared struggles and mutual help.

When wealth-flaunting turns into the dominant narrative, it dangers changing empathy with envy and pleasure with bitterness.

Our cultural traditions usually encourage modesty and the sharing of blessings, relatively than the flaunting of wealth.

Unfortunately, social media is slowly shifting these cultural norms.

With speedy urbanisation, rising inequality and the affect of world client tradition, many Malaysians, notably the youthful era, are being pulled towards materialism as a measure of success.

This shift is deeply worrying.

The cycle of efficiency

The drawback will not be confined to the viewers alone.

Influencers and celebrities who continually flaunt luxurious usually discover themselves trapped in a cycle of efficiency.

They really feel strain to repeatedly outdo their final publish, to maintain feeding an viewers that expects larger and higher issues.

This creates a type of psychological stress generally known as performative strain.

Behind the glamorous pictures, many influencers expertise anxiousness, burnout and concern of dropping relevance.

In attempting to take care of a picture of perfection, they generally lose contact with their genuine selves, which in the long term can even hurt their psychological well being.

Celebrities and influencers have an plain energy in shaping tradition.

This energy can be utilized both to uplift society or to weaken it.

Flaunting luxurious might acquire short-term consideration, however it additionally leaves behind long-term penalties for viewers’ psychological well being.

What if, as an alternative, influencers used their platforms to showcase authenticity, resilience and neighborhood service?

What in the event that they normalised discussions on failure, perseverance and self-acceptance, relatively than solely showcasing wealth?

Some Malaysian influencers have already begun to take this path, selling causes like environmental sustainability, psychological well being consciousness and monetary literacy.

Their affect is highly effective proof that affect will be exercised responsibly and that authenticity resonates deeply with audiences.

The significance of crucial pondering

Schools and universities ought to incorporate media literacy programmes that educate younger Malaysians learn how to critically interpret social media content material.

Understanding that social media is fastidiously curated helps buffer in opposition to dangerous comparisons.

We should proceed to focus on the hyperlink between social media tradition and psychological well being.

Campaigns that encourage stability, gratitude and conscious consumption can counteract the poisonous results of luxurious flaunting.

While nobody can dictate how others ought to reside, it is very important recognise that on-line actions carry weight.

Celebrities and influencers in Malaysia have the chance to positively form the digital panorama.

By selecting to focus on not simply their possessions, but additionally their journeys, struggles and contributions to society, they will encourage Malaysians in more healthy, extra significant methods.

True happiness will not be present in luxurious items, however in significant relationships, purposeful dwelling and a supportive neighborhood.

The way forward for society’s psychological well being additionally relies on the digital tradition we create collectively.

It is time to replicate on what sort of tradition we need to depart behind for the following era.

Do we would like one which flaunts wealth or one which uplifts hearts?

Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj is a marketing consultant psychiatrist and the Malaysian Mental Health Association president. For extra data, electronic mail [email protected]. The data supplied is for instructional and communication functions solely, and it shouldn’t be construed as private medical recommendation. The Star doesn’t give any guarantee on accuracy, completeness, performance, usefulness or different assurances as to the content material showing on this column. The Star disclaims all duty for any losses, harm to property or private harm suffered immediately or not directly from reliance on such data.