Why Do People Always Want to Look Good on Social Media?

I used to have a friend who loved spending money on expensive restaurants and going live on social media. But whenever she got sick or had an urgent situation, she would come to me to borrow money. I don’t like lending money because, most of the time, it’s not paid back. Even if she did return it, I knew she would just keep borrowing again. She would never really learn.

I’ve also seen people flexing on social media, but one situation really stood out. I knew someone who often said that being a woman means having your own business and not depending on any man. She used to criticize me for working a corporate job instead of running a business. Ironically, my monthly income was higher than what she made from her business. When I pointed that out, she said, “I don’t do business for money, I do it for passion.”
It made me wonder, how can someone run a business without understanding the basic purpose of it, yet still judge others? Why…

In the end, she also had to work a regular job, because of course, everyone needs money to survive.

I’m not perfect either, so I’ll talk about myself. I use Facebook mostly to repost funny memes. On X, I complain to companies like Grab or Gojek, it’s actually the fastest way to reach real people - or I share my thoughts about issues in Indonesia. But Instagram feels different. I usually post when I travel, maybe once every few months. I like to keep my feed neat, so I post in sets of three similar photos to maintain the grid. Of course, I curate everything. I only choose the best photos of myself, my travels, and my dog.

Sometimes, I also post things as a subtle response to people who talk badly about me, not directly, just through quotes. Funny enough, some people get triggered just by reading a good quote. Hehe.

So, why do people want to look good on social media?

Here are a few reasons I’ve noticed:

People look for validation and approval. Social media gives instant feedback through likes, comments, and shares, which can boost self-esteem.

There’s also social comparison. It’s natural to compare ourselves to others, and seeing everyone’s curated, “perfect” lives creates pressure to present our own lives in the best possible way.

Social media is also about identity and self-expression. People carefully choose what to share to shape how others see them.

Then there’s FOMO—the fear of missing out. People want to show they’re part of trends or experiences so they don’t feel left out.

It can also be about opportunities. A polished profile can lead to collaborations, networking, or even career growth—it becomes a kind of digital portfolio.

Social pressure plays a role too. There’s an unspoken expectation to follow certain aesthetics or trends to fit in.

And for some, it’s simply escapism—a way to present a more ideal version of life and momentarily forget reality.