In the era of social media, validation comes in the form of metrics like likes or shares, so everyone’s in a race to match up, which leads to feelings of inadequacy.
If you have been on any social media platform, chances are you have by now seen #impostersyndrome and related hashtags every time you randomly scroll through your feed. On Instagram, there are over 400k posts (and counting) with the #impostersyndrome hashtag. On the professional social networking site LinkedIn, posts on the topic are ubiquitous, with job seekers and working professionals offering insights on how they beat Imposter syndrome.
So, what exactly is Imposter syndrome and why do so many people on social media refer to this feeling?
Explains Bengaluru-based Kashmira Lad, a professional certified coach (PCC) from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), “Imposter syndrome is the internal belief that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. You often end up feeling like a fraud despite evidence of your achievements and abilities. It’s characterised by persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a “phoney”. Another Imposter syndrome trait is to attribute one’s success to external factors like “luck” rather than one’s skills or efforts. Perfectionism is often a side-effect.”
In the era of social media, validation comes in the form of metrics like likes or shares, so everyone’s in a race to match up, which leads to feelings of inadequacy, observes Kashmira. “It is not as if these feelings have not been there before (pre-digital age) but social media increases the need for validation from others,” she notes.
According to a 2023 collaborative study published in the Psychology and Marketing journal, professional social network site usage heightens “professional self-focused attention, triggering imposter thoughts.”
For Jaipur-based ESG and sustainability consultant Chitranjali Tiwari, who has been an active user of professional networking site LinkedIn to write articles and posts on issues that matter to her, the platform may trigger imposter thoughts more than other social networking sites simply because the focus is on professional matters. However, she observes that LinkedIn also sometimes has the opposite impact of the Imposter syndrome. “When I see professionals with a not-so-stellar background take up new roles or responsibilities, it actually boosts my confidence and I feel I can pull it off as well.”
Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/what-s-the-truth-behind-feeling-like-a-fake-3153117
