Dr. Alok Kanojia

So anytime you use social media, there are a lot of apps now that will automatically filter and adjust your appearance. So if you take like a picture on an app like TikTok, it will apply a filter without you doing anything.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And so over time, what happens is we start to build up an identity of ourselves that is a virtual identity that gets a certain number of likes, dislikes, call it whatever you want. And then what happens is like literally when I look at like my pictures online, I'm a prettier version of what I see in the mirror. So I put forth this face to the outside world.

And then I spend a lot of time and energy because now it's become a part of our jobs. It's become a part of our social circles, right? We have to be active on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, LinkedIn. So now I invest in this person. But then when I wake up in the morning and I look at myself in the mirror, I'm not that person.

And then I spend a lot of time and energy because now it's become a part of our jobs. It's become a part of our social circles, right? We have to be active on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, LinkedIn. So now I invest in this person. But then when I wake up in the morning and I look at myself in the mirror, I'm not that person.

And then I spend a lot of time and energy because now it's become a part of our jobs. It's become a part of our social circles, right? We have to be active on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, LinkedIn. So now I invest in this person. But then when I wake up in the morning and I look at myself in the mirror, I'm not that person.

What you see when you look in the mirror looks different from the pictures that you take of yourself, especially when we start applying filters. So there's already a little bit of a disconnect between the person that I really am and the person that I put forward. Then what happens is I start to feel inferior to my virtual self, right? Because I'm just not as pretty when I look in the mirror.

What you see when you look in the mirror looks different from the pictures that you take of yourself, especially when we start applying filters. So there's already a little bit of a disconnect between the person that I really am and the person that I put forward. Then what happens is I start to feel inferior to my virtual self, right? Because I'm just not as pretty when I look in the mirror.

What you see when you look in the mirror looks different from the pictures that you take of yourself, especially when we start applying filters. So there's already a little bit of a disconnect between the person that I really am and the person that I put forward. Then what happens is I start to feel inferior to my virtual self, right? Because I'm just not as pretty when I look in the mirror.

And so then like we can start to feel dissatisfied with ourselves. And then what happens is, OK, so now what I'm going to do is I'm going to start like using more filters. And then we almost get like addicted to filters in the same way that we can get like addicted to Botox, where we want to look a particular way. And why do people use Botox? It's because they want to look a particular way.

And so then like we can start to feel dissatisfied with ourselves. And then what happens is, OK, so now what I'm going to do is I'm going to start like using more filters. And then we almost get like addicted to filters in the same way that we can get like addicted to Botox, where we want to look a particular way. And why do people use Botox? It's because they want to look a particular way.

And so then like we can start to feel dissatisfied with ourselves. And then what happens is, OK, so now what I'm going to do is I'm going to start like using more filters. And then we almost get like addicted to filters in the same way that we can get like addicted to Botox, where we want to look a particular way. And why do people use Botox? It's because they want to look a particular way.

And now you can do that virtually. And so at the same time, what we're doing is like creating kind of a false version of ourselves. And then we kind of have this like part of us that we don't like. And then we like the false version more than the real version. So we invest more and more time into our online presence and we start to like lose ourselves in the real world. That's just one aspect.

And now you can do that virtually. And so at the same time, what we're doing is like creating kind of a false version of ourselves. And then we kind of have this like part of us that we don't like. And then we like the false version more than the real version. So we invest more and more time into our online presence and we start to like lose ourselves in the real world. That's just one aspect.

And now you can do that virtually. And so at the same time, what we're doing is like creating kind of a false version of ourselves. And then we kind of have this like part of us that we don't like. And then we like the false version more than the real version. So we invest more and more time into our online presence and we start to like lose ourselves in the real world. That's just one aspect.

A second aspect is comparison, right? Because social media is very, very, very good at making comparisons and making all kinds of comparisons. So the social media algorithms have figured out that the way to keep you addicted is by making you feel bad and making you feel good in an alternating way.

A second aspect is comparison, right? Because social media is very, very, very good at making comparisons and making all kinds of comparisons. So the social media algorithms have figured out that the way to keep you addicted is by making you feel bad and making you feel good in an alternating way.

A second aspect is comparison, right? Because social media is very, very, very good at making comparisons and making all kinds of comparisons. So the social media algorithms have figured out that the way to keep you addicted is by making you feel bad and making you feel good in an alternating way.

So it'll show you things that make you feel good about yourself or maybe feel superior to other people. And then it'll show you things that make you feel bad about yourself. And so it's kind of like messing with your sense of identity.