In the times dominated by likes, shares, and the pursuit of virtual validation, the quiet joy of a private life has been lost. Social media has transformed our significant moments into performances for public consumption, where the more you reveal, the more attention you seem to get. But what are the downsides to such transformations?

A study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 35% of adults who regularly use social media report feeling increased anxiety from the pressure to present a “picture-perfect” life online. The presentation should be exceptional. But if you dig deeper, a stark reality is revealed – the more they share, the more they compare, and the more they suffer.

The allure of broadcasting every meal, vacation, and personal milestone often outweigh the downsides it carries. The same research suggests that the constant exposure to the curated lives of other people fosters feelings of inadequacy and jealousy in almost 50% of the respondents. While a perfectly filtered photo or video may capture a fleeting moment of joy, it often invites scrutiny, judgment, and, perhaps worst of all, envy.

Psychologists have been warning about the dangers of oversharing, but do we have time to listen? According to a report from the Pew Research Center, 46% of social media users have regretted something they posted online, particularly when it came to personal or intimate details. Once information is out in the open, it’s no longer under your control. It’s like a bullet being fired – once it is out, there’s no going back.

People see what they are being shown, but they also create narratives of their own – ones which cannot be controlled, and ones that often lead to gossip, criticism, or resentment.

On the other hand, the benefits of maintaining a private life are profound. With the graph of oversharing shooting skywards, privacy has become a moral luxury few can afford.

Keeping your personal life out of the spotlight means protecting your peace of mind. It means your joys and sorrows belong to you, and not to the anonymous crowd scrolling past. The more you share, the more people feel entitled to your life. And with that entitlement comes interference – unwelcome opinions, unsolicited advice, and envy. But by keeping things close to yourself, you gain a rare freedom. No one can interfere in what they do not know, and people cannot destroy things oblivious to them. It is safe to say that oversharing on social media invites anxiety and envy, while privacy protects peace and happiness from unwanted scrutiny and interference.

So, in a world that’s obsessed with visibility, maybe the real key to happiness is staying invisible.