Gen Z and males are most likely to suffer from relationship envy, which social media fuel. Instagram is an ideal venue for luxury brands; users are bombarded with luxury garments, exotic vacations, etc. Social media’s elevation of luxury diminishes self-worth far more often than it motivates people to fulfill their aspirations.
How Social Media Fuel “Envy Culture”
Historically, luxury has been linked to exclusivity, mystery, and inaccessibility. However, social media have changed all that, making luxury more accessible, visible, and democratized while fueling a culture of envy and aspiration.
Surveys reveal that about 80% of people under 30 often feel envious compared to 69% of those over 50. The vast majority envies people of their own gender.
With 41% of those aged 18-29 single, these Gen Z members are the most likely to suffer from relationship envy. It’s also more probable for men to suffer from luxury relationship expectations. According to a 2023 survey, women in their 20s are far less likely than men their age to be romantically uninvolved, lonely, friendless, and sexually inactive.
Amplifying The Impact Of Luxury Items
Social media’s visual-centric nature has enhanced the perception and impact of luxury. Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram rely on pictures and videos, making them ideal venues for producers of luxury items to showcase their appeal. Rich people on Insta can be the source and the target of such marketing strategies.
The emphasis on visual aesthetics affects consumer expectations, making the feel and look of luxury items as important as their quality and source. This translates to relationship expectations: expensive gifts from a partner, being taken to exotic destinations on vacation, etc. Carefully curated feeds, high-resolution photos, and visually appealing content have become essential luxury marketing tools. Some people are proving susceptible, with the global value of the luxury gifts market predicted to reach $159.9 billion by 2027.
It’s only logical that the constant exposure to images of luxury lifestyles creates unrealistic desires and expectations. Social media users are bombarded with content showcasing opulent living spaces, luxury garments, and exotic vacations, leading to “luxury envy.”
The Difference Between Expectations And Standards
Standards are a personal set of “norms” of what is acceptable in a relationship. They are factual and tend to be unambiguous. You either accept open relationships or you don’t. You are willing to share budgets, or you aren’t. You’re fine with them responding to your texts when they can, or you want an immediate response.
Standards are values, boundaries, and principles people use to protect themselves from intolerable situations or partners. When you define your set of values, you are thinking of yourself and your own needs, not your current or potential partner.
Given that people have different relationship standards, being open about them is imperative. You want to know if you and the new person in your life are fundamentally compatible.
Standards are fixed and real, while expectations are more dynamic, subjective, and fluctuating. They are a belief that someone will have a certain possession or behave a certain way, in this case, buy you an expensive gift, own a luxury home, etc.
Expectations can develop and evolve as a result of hopes for the future or past experiences. They can be driven by fact or completely irrational, which social media take advantage of. They can be positive or negative, and finally, excruciating if inconsistent with what a partner delivers.
Any Positives To The Perpetual Comparisons?
Social media’s cult-like elevation of luxury can motivate people to improve their living conditions and fulfill their aspirations. More often than not, though, it leads to anxiety, dissatisfaction, and distorted beliefs about self-worth in a world where self-doubt has become the norm. According to a report by Psychology Today, an astounding 85% of people are grappling with low confidence and self-esteem. It seems there are more negatives, so adjusting your expectations is highly recommended unless you don’t mind setting yourself up for perpetual disappointment.
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