Do We Control the Feed, or Does It Control Us?

Does social media make us quieter, shyer, or more prone to retreating into soul-searching? Let me explain what I mean.

The constant exposure and the endless stream of input we receive from these platforms eventually invade our inner world. It stays with us and influences us deeply. In that sense, the term "influencer" shouldn’t just apply to famous creators; it should apply to the platforms themselves.

Even a simple comment can shift our entire mood. I recently watched a YouTuber who was crying in a short video because of the comments he had read. Some might say he was just acting, but I believed him. Usually, he is cheerful and happy, so it was obvious that something had genuinely hurt him. What struck me as curious was that he chose to share such a raw, personal moment of weakness with the world.

Personally, I would never do that. I was raised with the idea that you never show weakness to others, especially not to a public audience. Yet, I wonder—is it actually better to show up with your real face, flaws and all?

The Need for "Soul Therapy"

Most of us spend about two hours a day on social media (I’ll save my thoughts on that time-sink for another post). The feelings that surface during that time—often controversial or overwhelming—really deserve to be analyzed by a specialist.

I am surrounded by younger colleagues, many of them ten or more years younger than me (I’m 45). They work and live independently, yet many of them see a psychoanalyst or a life coach regularly. They feel better for it; they seem to need this "soul therapy." While the thought of seeking help has crossed my mind once or twice, I’ve never made the call. I’ve always kept it as a "backup plan" for a truly dark time.

Even my 12-year-old niece is now visiting a therapist because she cannot manage her addiction to social media and the intense emotions it triggers in her.

My Question to You

How do you react to all this digital input? Does the noise of social media influence your temperament and mood, or are you able to remain "cold" and unaffected by it?