The advent of social media has brought numerous changes to our society. It has impacted almost all aspects of our lives. It has empowered the common people to share their ideas with the world. From younger to older people, everyone is deeply indulged in social media. Undeniably social media has brought several positive changes to society in the form of social and political movements that have impacted the policies of the government. And it has played a significant role in the countries of Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and America. However, it is also argued that while social media has strengthened democracy, it has also posed a great threat to democracies in the world. When it comes to how we perceive reality and the world around us, social media always appears to be getting in the way. Social media has notably contributed to shaping our reality of things and the world around us. In other words, social media has contributed to the phenomenon known as “hyper-reality.” Hyper-reality is the state where it becomes difficult to distinguish reality from fiction. The boundaries between reality and fiction become blurred, and people’s perceptions are shaped by the media they consume.
Jean Baudrillard, a French theorist, came up with the term “hyperreality” to characterize the postmodern semiotic situation of contemporary society. According to Baudrillard, our contemporary world is a simulacrum in which truth has been replaced by false images to the point that it has become hard to tell them apart. Social media platforms have facilitated the creation and consumption of content that blurs the line between fact and fiction. There are several ways in which social media contributes to the emergence of hyper-reality. One way is ‘curated self-presentation’, where users can curate the best versions of themselves. The users often highlight the best aspects of their lives. They carefully construct their online personas in order to present those personas to their followers and elicit approval from those followers in the form of likes and comments. These curated versions of their lives do not reflect reality or what is really going on behind the scenes. A person can be quite dissatisfied with his life, but he can fake that he is quite happy. This can lead to the distortion of reality as offline life could be more complicated and less polished than what is shown online. This carefully crafted portrayal of oneself on social media may easily lead to an unhealthy fixation with maintaining a flawless look. The user is always concerned about keeping his looks up to par and preserving an image that is appealing to his fans. The fixation with presenting oneself as ideal on social media may lead to negative effects on one’s mental health, such as stress and worry.
Filter bubbles can also lead to hyperreality. Filter bubbles refer to the phenomenon where users are exposed to content that confirms their existing views, beliefs, and values. The algorithms that power social media platforms are developed in such a manner that they only provide the user with content that is already consistent with their values and passions. This is simple logic, the more active a person is in responding to a particular content, the more of that content they will see in their social network feeds. In “filter bubbles,” the users receive the content based on their search history, queries, and online behavior. As a result, the users can lose touch with other diverse ranges of perspectives. When people are only shown content that they like, their perception of the world becomes skewed toward the things that appeal to them. In this type of hyper-reality, individuals become more polarized and less willing to consider or accept other alternatives as well. Individuals become more prone to misinformation and fake news. It can also lead to political divisions and an absence of constructive dialogue and can create a gap between different groups in society.
Echo chambers can also contribute to the creation of hyperreality. An “echo chamber” is a social group or online community where members are only exposed to information that supports their current worldview without ever being questioned. In a social media echo chamber, users are subjected to one-sided, personalized media content to the exclusion of other perspectives and diverse voices. An echo chamber is somehow similar to a ‘filter bubble’; however echo chamber is an extreme version of the same phenomenon. The users are able to connect with those who have similar perspectives and values to their own, as well as those who support the convictions they already have. Echo chambers provide individuals with a secure haven, and these people are not willing to acknowledge the validity of viewpoints that are in direct opposition to their own. As a consequence of this, it results in hyper-reality.
FOMO (fear of missing out) and social comparison are the psychological factors that contribute to hyper-reality. The term “FOMO” is shorthand for “fear of missing out,” which refers to the feeling of anxiety caused by the thought that other people are more fortunate than you are. It’s characterized by intense envy and can lower one’s morale. This phenomenon has become more prevalent with the advent of social media platforms. Users often compare themselves with other curated personalities, which leads to feelings of inadequacy, envy, and a distorted perception of reality. It has created immense stress in the lives of individuals.
Hyper-reality is also fueled by viral content and misinformation. Viral content, however, may or may not have solid foundations. Viral content that is sensationalized or based on dubious sources has the potential to alter reality since people tend to trust what they consume online. Misinformation also causes hyper-reality in the age of social media. Misinformation is false information that is shared when a person believes it to be true and shares it with others. Misinformation includes rumors, pranks, and insults. When social media users are exposed to false information, such as rumors and fake news, they are more likely to form beliefs based on that false information, and then they are more likely to make decisions based on that inaccurate information, which ultimately leads to a distorted view of reality.
Social media platforms have progressively incorporated augmented reality (AR) applications, such as filters and lenses, leading to the phenomenon of hyperreality. Using augmented reality enables people to present themselves to the world in a unique and creative manner. Using augmented reality (AR) filters on social media, users can alter their appearances by applying virtual makeup, facial features, and special effects to their faces. All of this can result in the hyper-realistic portrayal of individuals whose online selves are completely distinct from their offline selves. This can readily obscure the distinction between actual and virtual individuals. The users employ these filters and lenses in order to get social validation and approval from others. The same users can get frustrated if they don’t get approval and social validation from others.
Social media platforms are designed in such a manner that they cause instant gratification and addiction to their users. It provides users with instant gratification through likes, comments, and shares. This perpetual feedback loop can cause users to disconnect from reality, and users become more focused and interested in their virtual worlds and less in their offline engagement and experiences.
By obscuring the distinction between fact and fiction, social media has contributed to the rise of hyperreality. It has facilitated the existence of echo chambers and filter bubbles, as well as curated self-representation and social comparison. As people become increasingly immersed in the digital world, it is essential to examine our relationship with the digital world. It is crucial to acknowledge the effect these platforms have on our perception of reality. We should embrace authenticity, educate ourselves, connect with reality, engage in self-validation, and be skeptical and critical of everything we encounter on social media.
Aijaz Ahmad Mir is a research scholar from Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, Telangana. His areas of interest are Islam, Politics, and Philosophy.
