1. We All Believed We Would Be Connected

First, let’s recall when we first encountered social media. Didn’t it seem like an amazing new world was opening up? We could greet friends on the other side of the globe every morning and chat all night with people who shared our hobbies. We firmly believed social media would break down all walls in the world and connect us more closely and warmly. We were filled with the exciting expectation that every day would be like a joyful party.

2. But the World We Faced

However, at some point, this party began to creak. The shock described as ‘Reality Shock’ starts right here. It’s the story of a cold reality completely different from what we expected. Let’s take a peek into the stories of some neighbors.

Evening of Ordinary Office Worker Mr. J

After work, exhausted, Mr. J lies down on the sofa and habitually opens Instagram. His timeline is filled with dazzling worlds. A colleague is drinking wine against a stunning night view on a business trip abroad, a university friend enjoys a weekend ‘hotel vacation’ at a luxury hotel, and even a newly hired junior boasts about a luxury bag as their “purchase of the day.”

The more Mr. J scrolls down, the colder a corner of his heart feels. “Everyone’s living so wonderfully, what am I doing?” His own image of barely getting by with instant noodles for dinner feels pitiful. The social media he started to share happiness now only leaves him with the endless homework of comparison and deprivation.

Mr. M’s Confusion Over His Son’s Health

Mr. M has been worried about his son’s health lately. Although the hospital advised following the doctor’s prescription, he searched YouTube just in case. Then a video titled “Miraculous Treatment Unknown Even to Doctors” caught his eye. Once he started watching, the algorithm relentlessly recommended similar videos.

Before long, Mr. M became obsessed with the thought, “These videos are real, and maybe doctors are hiding something.” Unverified information and sensational claims dragged him deeper into distrust and confusion. The space he sought for useful information turned into a hotbed of fake news and conspiracy theories, clouding his rational judgment.

Tears of Ms. S, a Small Workshop Owner

Ms. S took great joy in introducing her handmade crafts online. She felt small happiness communicating with people who liked her work. Then one day, malicious comments started appearing for no apparent reason.

“You actually sell this for money? No conscience.” “Just by looking at your face, you’re obviously a scammer.”

Strangers’ barbs pierced Ms. S’s heart. The space once filled with passion and pride quickly became stained with fear and hurt. The cowardly violence hidden behind anonymity shook the dream she had carefully nurtured to its core.

3. The True Meaning of the ‘Shock’ We Face

The stories of Mr. J, Mr. M, and Ms. S vividly reveal the essence of the ‘Reality Shock’ caused by social media. This shock goes beyond mere disappointment that things were not as expected; it shakes the very way we perceive the world.

First, it is the shock of cognitive dissonance caused by the ’edited reality.’ We intellectually know that social media images are staged. But as in Mr. J’s case, emotions constantly compare others’ brightest moments with our most ordinary ones, causing pain. As the boundary between real reality and well-crafted fake reality collapses, we suffer intense cognitive dissonance, feeling our lives are abnormal or failures. This is the first shock we experience.

Second, it is the shock of the ’thought prison’ created by algorithms. We accessed social media to see a broader world, but as with Mr. M, technology traps us in a narrow ‘filter bubble.’ Algorithms showing only what we want to see deprive us of opportunities to meet and debate with people holding different views. Although the world seems wider, our thoughts become more extreme and isolated. This is the second shock.

Finally, it is the shock of violence wielded by anonymity. The democratic ideal that everyone has a voice has turned into a reality where anyone can easily throw stones at others, as seen in Ms. S’s tears. The online ‘self,’ separated from the real ‘self,’ utters sharp words without responsibility, ignoring the deep wounds they cause. That a space created for connection can become such a cruel weapon is the coldest and most realistic third shock.

Ultimately, ‘Reality Shock’ is the process of realizing how naive our expectations reflected in the mirror of social media were, and how much we overlooked the hidden nature of humanity and the dual aspects of technology. Yet facing this shock can be not despair but a new beginning. Now, instead of blindly accepting this powerful tool, we face the duty to view it critically and use it consciously. It is time to seek what true connection is and how healthy communication is possible.