Last Friday, one participant asked me an interesting question.

He told me there are many “social celebrities” on Facebook whom he befriended and was impressed by their interesting posts and great photo stories. However, when he finally met them in person, he found them very ordinary and to some extent very different from the persona they portray through social media. To this I replied…

1. People are more successful on Facebook than they really are. Facebook is the best of life gallery. Many will not share their foul-ups, mistakes or failure as frequently as their success and glory. What you see on Facebook is filtered information. Do not be drawn to the image but rather know that individual on a personal  level.

People are more successful on Facebook than they really are.

2. People are smarter on Facebook than they really are. Many people have words of wisdom and plenty of hindsight (incidentally hindsight is always perfect) to offer on Facebook. This is due to the fact that people have time to digest an online conversation and have ample time to craft an appropriate response. This is a sharp contrast to a real verbal exchange in real life. Most of us are not as articulate as we are on Facebook.

 People are smarter on Facebook than they really are.

3. People are better looking on Facebook than in real life. Sorry, if this hurts some friends on Facebook. Today with all the apps and filters, everyone can be a supermodel on Facebook. The photo we posted may be the 13th pictures we taken as a selfie before it passed our stringent criteria of “Looking Good, Looking Smart, Looking Glam” So do not be surprised when someone you do not recognize say he is your Facebook friend in a social situation.

People are better looking on Facebook than in real life.

4. People are more emotional on Facebook than in real life. Did you ever notice that whenever people are angry or sad, they become excellent writers on social media? Have you wondered why all the complaints are so hurting? It is because emotions are harder to control on social media. When you happy or sad, everyone knows. In real life, you begin to be more measured as people are watching you.

People are more emotional on Facebook than in real life.

These are just my observations. I have always said social media is a real place for personas not people. If you want real friends, do not live your life on Facebook. Join some real events.

If you like what I said, share it with your real friends.