"As social animals, we humans are hard-wired to learn, thrive, and grow through our relationships - our engagement with and observations of others. Early in life, we rely on teachers and role models for guidance and support. Through engagement in formal and informal settings, in school, games, and other pursuits in our young lives, comparison begins to seep into our daily lives."
"When it comes to comparison traps, there's nothing that compares to our engagement with social media. Today, as social media engagement is at an all-time high, with an estimated 5.41 billion (65.7 percent of the world's population) engaged in social media as of July 2025, and the average social media user spending close to two and a half hours a day on social media platforms, our capacity for comparison has expanded to include virtually the whole world."
Humans are social animals who learn, thrive, and grow through relationships, engagement, and observation of others. Children rely on teachers and role models for guidance, and early experiences in school, games, and pursuits introduce comparison. Young people compare grades, appearance, athletic performance, and popularity, judging abilities and attributes against peers. Comparison continues across life, encompassing progress, performance, appearance, relationships, and social and economic status. Social media has massively expanded the scope of comparison by connecting billions and increasing daily exposure to curated lives. Social comparison informs goal-setting and self-evaluation, while self-esteem involves confidence in personal capabilities and attributes.
Read at Psychology Today
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