If you’ve ever been tempted to scroll though your own social media profiles, imagining what others might think of your life, you’re not alone.
According to author and psychotherapist Eloise Skinner, it’s a perfectly natural phenomenon that many people indulge in.
And the explanation why is intriguing. Essentially, it’s all rooted in our desire to learn more about who we are as a person.
‘The desire to understand how we’re perceived has been present in human instinct for generations,’ said the mental health professional.
‘As we try to understand ourselves — answering the timeless question of who am I? — we often draw on the opinions and reflections of others to guide us.’
Looking at our own social media is a way of attempting to understand our identities, a psychologist explained.
And when this feedback isn’t immediately available, Ms Skinner explained to Mashable, we try to imagine what it may be by examining what others would see when looking at our social media profiles.
This need for social acceptance and status has been shaped over the years by evolution, added psychologist Zoe Mallet.
As a result, all humans have a deep-seated need for social approval that’s only amplified by social media.
‘It’s a subconscious attempt to enhance our social standing, increase our chances of belonging and create a positive self-image, which is part of our survival coping mechanisms as humans,’ said Mallet.
Stalking one’s own social media is just another way to control others’ perception of oneself, she explained.
The act can also be a way of trying to make sense of the past, leaving us unable to get on with the present.
For others, however, self-stalking can be rooted in perfectionism.
‘[It] could stem from a feeling of insecurity about our sense of identity, how we appear to others, or even a critical feeling about what we post and where we should improve,’ said Ms Skinner.
‘There’s a greater awareness of how we compare to others online — in other words, it’s easier to hold up our digital lives against someone else’s, to see what we like or don’t like.’
For most, this is harmless, but for some, it can become a damaging preoccupation.
‘Social media can act as a storage unit for older versions of ourselves and our identities, so reflecting with appreciation, nostalgia or thoughtfulness can be a supportive, beneficial activity,’ Ms Skinner added.
But if self-stalking leaves you overly wrapped up in the past, be wary.
‘If it makes us more self-conscious, self-absorbed or distracted from whatever we’d like to use social media for, it’s worth rethinking the habit,’ she said.
‘When we post, we’re validated by the responses we receive and get a hit of dopamine,’ added Dr Mallet.
‘We want that hit again and again, so of course we’ll head back to the source where we experienced it before.
‘It’s not that we’re addicted to looking at our own Instagram. We’re addicted to the feeling we get when we do.’
A whopping 56.2 million people in the UK are active on social media, and spend an average of one hour and 49 minutes on different platforms each day.
But experts have warned that too much time spent on social media can have negative effects on mental health, particularly among young people.
A number of studies have found a strong link between heavy social media use and an increased risk for depression.
And recent data from the US shows that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media have double the risk of anxiety symptoms.
As of 2023, the average daily usage of this age group was 4.8 hours.
More than half of adolescents also say routinely scrolling through social media makes them feel bad about their bodies, according to studies.
