August 28, 2025 by Leiza Clark
People in our society today use social media approval as if it were absolutely everything. A single heart displayed on a social media creates feelings of being understood and receiving love and acknowledgement. A relationship without heart leads people to doubt each other and compare themselves which results in feelings of being inadequate.
Social media platforms were created to establish a unified community for people to connect. And yes, it can be beautiful. However, these days social media links our individual worth to statistical data which is ultimately outside our control. True freedom of oneself peaks when a person no longer needs social media validation, because they have reached a point where external approval becomes irrelevant.
The Illusion of Validation
People use their time to scroll through content when they perform their regular feed comparison and refresh activities. The dopamine hit of someone approving what we’ve shared feels good, but only for a moment. When our sense of value depends on how others react, we’re actually standing on shaky ground.
The effort to create an ideal image for others results in no true inner peace. The sensation occurs when we let go of our need to match up with particular social standards.
The Courage to Stand Alone
Presenting your genuine self to others creates a transformative experience when you present yourself without needing approval from outside sources. The act of posting happens when you feel it is the right thing to do and writing emerges from your heart’s need to express itself and living authentically without needing external validation.
This practice requires you to develop a strong connection with your inner self, instead of trying to ignore what is real. That’s where the real strength lies.
Compassion as Strength
The process of releasing the need for others approval doesn’t require you to end relationships. It starts with compassion for yourself, to truly accept your imperfections and characteristics that makes you unique and different, independent from seeking continuous validation from others.
Your relationships with others will also change, as you’ll focus on genuine connections and authentic honesty instead of exchanging superficial validation.
A Shift in Perspective
The opinions others do not reflect your worth as a person. People see you through the perspective of their individual life experiences together with their personal feelings of self-doubt. Once you really understand this, you stop taking things so personally.
You start to walk as your true self instead of trying to fit into what others want you to be. Your authentic self is enough to be present in this moment.
The Practice of Digital Freedom
The following methods will assist you in developing better social media connections.
Pause before posting. Ask yourself, am I sharing this information because it reflects my personal truth or because I’m seeking validation from others.
Create boundaries. Give yourself breaks from checking your social media page for likes and comments.
Curate with care. Follow accounts that inspire authenticity instead of comparison.
Practice stillness. Daily reflection or meditation practice for a short time will help you find your way back to your inner voice.
The Courage to Be Free
We don’t have to totally disconnect from social media, we can still maintain our digital existence, but by simply doing it more consciously.
Your self-worth should never depend on social media likes, because true freedom exists in your ability to love yourself unconditionally.
And that kind of freedom? That’s priceless.