By: Elena Muñoz
Working on this exhibition about perception, social media, and mental health has made me understand how easily digital platforms can modify our sense of who we are. My goal was to explore how online content influences self-image, but as I developed the project, I realized the impact was deeper than I expected. Social media doesn’t just reflect who we are; it shapes how we see ourselves and others. Through this process, my perspective shifted from seeing social media as a way of communication to recognizing it as a powerful force that shapes modern perception.
One of the first things that I learned was that perception is selective. We don’t see reality as it is; we see through filters, not only the ones on Instagram, but also the ones created by the government. Through my exhibition, I discovered all the filters the government adds to the news after gathering information from the public. When the public says one thing, the government handpicks each word and adds them through a processor to see which words are useful to represent the nation. Either way, the public’s word is still being shown through Instagram, Reddit, and other social media platforms like Facebook.
Also, I noticed the mental filters we create when looking through social media. The ones we create with our insecurities and judgment. While creating the blogs, I put up unedited photos beside highly edited social media posts. The contrast was striking: the same person could look completely different because of lighting, angle, or filters, and yet both images were taken as “real.” That made me reflect upon how easily perception can be manipulated and how we, at times, judge our worth against something that isn’t even true. Our reactions are completely different because with the highly edited photo, the brain unconsciously believes that its reality, all the filters, the fake reality, and we immediately compare ourselves to them
In the end, perception is the power to shape reality, define beauty, and influence emotions. Social media amplifies that power for better or worse. The challenge for our generation is not to lose ourselves while learning how to use it. One of the most important lessons I’ve taken away is understanding that our self-worth is not measured in likes or views.
This exhibit made me realize something very important: behind every post, there’s a real person with real emotions. The more we remember that, the healthier our digital lives and our mental health will be. I hope my audience walks away reflecting on how their online actions and words affected others, and that they feel inspired to use social media with more empathy and awareness.
Leave a Reply