Public Love, Private Shade: When Social Media and Reality Don’t Match

Authenticity vs. Performance: Are We Playing a Role on Social Media?

Ever had a conversation where someone spills all their frustrations and the latest gossip about a person—“I can’t believe they did that, I’m so over it, what a mess.”—only to scroll through social media later and see them commenting on that same person’s post with: “Love you so much, beautiful soul! You inspire me every day! 💕”

Wait... what?

Did I miss a plot twist? Was there a reconciliation? Or is this just the standard social media script we’ve all agreed to follow?

The Social Media Script: Kindness or Contradiction?

Now, don’t get me wrong—I get it. We live in a world where keeping the peace and respecting others is important. Nobody wants to be the villain in the comments section. But at some point, doesn’t the disconnect between private truth and public performance start to feel a little... uncomfortable?

If I were the one doing it—especially after sharing my real feelings with others—I might wonder if I looked like a bit of a hypocrite.

The Fine Line Between Etiquette and Performance

Now, before anyone gets defensive, let’s be fair: People are complicated. You can be frustrated with someone one day and still find things to appreciate about them the next. And sure, maybe social media isn’t the place for brutal honesty—nobody wants to see, “You irritate me beyond belief, but I hope you have a nice birthday anyway.” But at what point does politeness start looking like straight-up contradiction?

Maybe the real question is: Are we being authentic, or are we just playing a role in the great social media theater?

The Challenge: Aligning Online and Offline Selves

At the end of the day, people will do what they do. But if you ever catch yourself praising someone online while rolling your eyes at them in real life, maybe—just maybe—it’s worth asking: Which version of me is telling the truth?

Because like it or not, social media is a stage—and some of us can’t help but notice when the script doesn’t match the storyline.