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Share the Jealousy: A Fresh Facebook Meme Idea
“Instead of scrolling through Facebook, why not create something? Take the creativity you channel into your social media and whip up something amazing, like a gourmet casserole!” — A new take on advice.
I’ve got a fun idea for a Facebook meme: tag five friends whose posts make you feel a twinge of jealousy in your feed. For instance, here’s how mine would look: “Today, I’m feeling envious of Sarah for her trending blog post, of Mark for crushing his fitness goals, and of Ashley and Tom, who just booked a week-long getaway to the Bahamas.”
The status update box prompts us with “What’s on your mind?” This meme would dive deeper and help you get to know me beyond my usual rants about hiking and my attempt at vegan sushi. By sharing my envy, I’d be opening up, fostering closer connections. As the insightful Brené Brown says, “We cultivate love when we allow our most vulnerable and powerful selves to be deeply seen and known.”
Once I tag my three friends, they can tag three more, and before we know it, this meme could spread like wildfire.
I appreciate that through Facebook, I can track everything from my childhood friend’s baby news to my cousin’s latest dinner creation. It helps me feel connected. But, let’s be honest, some posts spark that green-eyed monster. Just last month, Leo from my yoga class posted a profound MLK quote that got hundreds of likes—why can’t I get that kind of love for my posts? And then there’s Phyllis, who had her novel featured in a top magazine. What gives?
This new meme could be a form of therapy. It would reveal that even those I envy—like Sarah, Mark, Ashley, and Leo—have their own insecurities. How refreshing to know that the seemingly picture-perfect Ken is actually coveting a new car or a fulfilling relationship too.
I wouldn’t want to relish in anyone’s struggles, but it would serve as a reminder that we all desire more in life, and that realization can help ground me.
This approach works for a couple of reasons. First, recognizing that even those with enviable lives are still searching for something more can snap me out of the envy cycle. It reinforces that true happiness doesn’t come from accumulating things or experiences.
Second, simply naming that feeling can lessen its hold over me. While scrolling through my feed, envy can feel all-consuming, but once I acknowledge it, I separate myself from that feeling. Instead of being defined by my envy, I connect with my deeper self, which views this feeling as just one of many experiences—albeit an uncomfortable one.
This realization is often where I find the most joy and energy. I know this intuitively, but sometimes I forget, especially when I’m lost in the Facebook scroll. That’s why I think this meme could be a game changer.
Research from Berlin’s Humboldt University indicates that about one in three people feel less satisfied with their lives after using Facebook. The culprits? Holiday photos and comparisons to others’ social interactions, like the number of likes or birthday wishes they receive. In fact, a study from Utah Valley University found that the more time you spend on Facebook, the more likely you are to think that your friends live happier lives.
What makes my meme particularly healing is that studies show users who just browse without engaging tend to be more negatively affected. So, by simply opening up and sharing, we might notice a shift in perspective.
Who’s ready to join me in this?