In today’s world, many people measure their worth by numbers on a screen. A photo, a post, or even a simple thought is often shared to see how many people will like it. Social media has turned into a place where approval is counted, not felt. The more likes someone gets, the more important they feel.

This constant need for attention changes how people see themselves When the likes stop coming, many start to feel invisible or not good enough instead of finding happiness in real achievements or honest relationships, people wait for digital reactions to tell them they matter it’s like living for the next notification instead of the next real smile.

The problem is that online validation is not real connection a like or view doesn’t mean someone truly understands you. True support comes from people who know you, care about you, and see your worth without needing to double-tap a photo.

And the more we rely on this digital approval, the more we forget how to validate ourselves. We forget that our value isn’t something the internet gets to vote on. The pressure to keep up  to post more, to look perfect, to get noticed  creates a cycle of comparison that no one can truly win.

It can also affect mental health, causing anxiety, insecurity, and emotional exhaustion. Self-worth becomes fragile when it’s tied to likes and online attention. Breaking this cycle starts by reconnecting with real-life moments true friendships, honest conversations and personal goals that don’t need to be shared online.

To escape this cycle, we need to remember that real validation comes from a like that can fade in seconds, but self-worth stays when it’s built on something real the moment we stop measuring our value through screens is the moment we start seeing ourselves clearly again.