Fanny Ng, 48, was contented in her role as housewife to a successful businessman and mother to a teenage boy and girl. Ng had regular gatherings with her friends and kept in touch with them on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp). But this is what led to her growing discontent and subsequent withdrawal from social media, reveals the former finance officer.
“One day, you check your social media and find out your classmate is running her own company with many overseas branches and has won several international awards while you don’t even earn an income; your friend’s son has just gotten a spot at a prestigious university abroad, while yours is only going to a local college; the schoolmate everyone can’t stand is showing off her luxury travel photos to several European destinations; and worst of all, your so-called bestie is having hi-tea at a hotel with her ‘good friends’ and you’re not even invited,” she says. “You tell yourself ‘it doesn’t matter’, but can’t help being plagued by thoughts that life has passed you by, your friends have forgotten you and left you behind, and you feel pressured to ‘keep up appearances’. It gets worse because the more you scroll, the more you compare and feel discontented,” she adds.
Ng admits that she could spend hours scrolling on social media and going “down the rabbit hole” being distracted by interesting yet unnecessary things online, just before bedtime. It made me go to bed late, disru.