By Preeya Abidi-Fallows
From Snapchat to Instagram stories, why are experiences increasingly recorded rather than simply experienced?
Why in 2026 do we feel the need to film everything? From documenting what we have for breakfast to posting what children get up on a daily basis. What are the long term effects of sharing every aspect of our lives on social media and are we missing out on living in the moment?
Snapchat
Snapchat is a social messaging app made for sending pictures, videos, chatting, and sharing stories to friends and followers. Lauryn Hughes age 23 of Chester said: “I used to use Snapchat all the time, but it became toxic through my teenage years and young adulthood. Posting videos on my snapchat story whilst intoxicated lead to embarrassment and upsetting situations. If social media wasn’t a thing there wouldn’t be a platform for these issues to occur to young people.”
Instagram is a social media platform where people can share photos and videos, and can post on stories and reels. It enables people to connect with friends and other communities through direct messages. It is a leading platform for content creation; doing live broadcasts and marketing opportunities. Instagram is known for using data against people, so why are we posting every aspect of our lives on this platform?
Young people are becoming obsessed with getting the perfect Instagram picture before going anywhere. Factors such as this are the reason there is a link between social media and mental health. Natalie Jones, age 21, of Chester: “ I was never bothered about social media until there was pressure for me to put my face all over it and have the best picture. It can be a lot of pressure for people”.
X
X is possibly the most controversial of the social media, where celebrities are known for voicing opinions and the company is owned by the richest man in the world, Elon Musk. X became the new name for what had been called twitter in 2023. X/Twitter is known for its feuds and drama’s, with people being banned all the time. Charlotte James age 20 of Chester said: “Twitter is fun until you start looking and what people are saying in the comments, it can get brutal very quick and makes you wonder why we are so obsessed with keeping up with the latest trends. We have become unnecessarily nosy with what’s going on in other people’s lives”.
Social media addiction is a noted phenomenon
So why can’t we live in the moment? Experiences are meant to be lived and not viewed through a tiny screen, humans managed thousands of years living in the moment and seeing things through their own eyes. Children’s visions and dreams of the world are being overshadowed by a technological glow that are screens. Why are we increasingly recording experiences instead of living in them?
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