The influence of social media is unbelievable. It's sad to see -

The words of Virgil van Dijk—“The influence of social media is unbelievable. It’s sad to see—it’s a fake life that some people live.”—stand as a warning to our age, a cry from one who has seen both the heights of fame and the emptiness that shadows it. These words pierce the heart because they reveal a paradox: in a time when men and women are more connected than ever before, many live in greater illusion, binding themselves to masks and shadows instead of truth. The influence of these unseen currents is vast, shaping desires, thoughts, and even identities, yet much of it is built upon what is not real.

The origin of this thought springs from the modern world, where social media has become a temple of images, a marketplace of appearances. For athletes, musicians, leaders, and ordinary people alike, it offers the promise of recognition, yet often at the cost of authenticity. Van Dijk, a man tested on the fields of sport, speaks as one who knows the difference between true struggle and fabricated spectacle. On the pitch, effort cannot be faked—the result is clear, the contest is real. But in the realm of images and curated lives, what seems authentic may be but a painted mask, concealing emptiness within.

Consider the ancient parable of Narcissus, who gazed into the still waters and fell in love with his own reflection. He was not enchanted by reality, but by an image, a projection. And in his obsession, he wasted away, consumed by the false beauty he could never hold. So too does social media become a pool of reflections, where countless souls chase after the shimmering likeness of a life that does not exist. The sadness van Dijk describes is the sorrow of watching humanity fall in love with illusions, while neglecting the richness of real life.

History also teaches us the danger of false appearances. The court of Versailles glittered with jewels, silks, and lavish banquets, yet beneath the mask of grandeur lay poverty, hunger, and unrest that would erupt in revolution. The illusion of stability, propped up by spectacle, blinded rulers to the truth of their people’s suffering. In the same way, the glossy images of social media hide the struggles, loneliness, and imperfections that make us human. To live in such illusions is to risk collapse, for no false life can stand forever.

But van Dijk’s words are not only a lament; they are also a call to courage. To reject the fake life is to embrace what is real: struggle, imperfection, growth, and genuine connection. It is not easy, for the world applauds the mask more than the face, the performance more than the truth. Yet the ancient heroes remind us that greatness is forged in honesty. Achilles was not remembered for his beauty alone, but for his courage in battle. Marcus Aurelius is honored not for image, but for his wisdom. The truly enduring legacy is not crafted in illusions, but in deeds.

The lesson is plain: seek not to impress, but to be authentic. Let your life be rooted in reality, not in the curated fragments you present to the crowd. Do not measure your worth by the number of watchers or the applause of strangers, but by the truth of your character and the strength of your relationships. To live a real life is to choose presence over pretense, depth over surface, sincerity over spectacle.

Practically, let each soul guard their heart in this age of images. Limit the time spent gazing into reflections; instead, give your energy to those who stand beside you in flesh and blood. Share not only your triumphs, but your struggles, so that others may find courage in your honesty. And when tempted to compare your path to the painted lives of others, remember van Dijk’s warning: much of what you see is not life, but illusion.

Thus, his words are like a beacon to a generation wandering in the fog of appearances: the influence of social media is indeed unbelievable, but to live a fake life is a tragedy. Choose the path of truth, for though it may be harder, it will lead you to a life that is real, rich, and unshakable—one that no illusion can ever counterfeit.