8 July

Do you know anybody with 'Smiling Depression'? I think people with depression often seem happy, but it's good to see that people are more aware of that now. One of the main causes is social comparison, comparing ourselves with others. Social media is helping to create an epidemic of smiling depression, especially in young girls, but the behaviour goes across all ages. But it's not the technology's fault, it's how we're approaching it. As Aletheia Luna says, "Be mindful of the reasons behind your posts/pictures. Ask yourself, “Am I posting this picture/writing this status update to seek validation from others?”. In other words, are you posting merely to receive many likes, comments, or shares? Are you posting in order to gain attention or to feel better about yourself?"