The digital facade: unmasking the stresses of online professionalism

Navigating professional identity online

In the era of remote work and online businesses, people form their first impressions online way before they happen (if ever) in the real world. In this context, you must present yourself professionally on social media, just as you would for a networking event. However, this digital facade comes with its own set of challenges, which can significantly affect your wellbeing and career satisfaction.

Here’s a deeper dive into how the quest for digital professionalism can sometimes feel more like a burden than a boon, and how to keep a professional social media presence without losing yourself in the process.

The trap of social comparison

The digital age makes it easier than ever to look into the worlds of others, particularly in your professional orbit. This constant exposure leads to what psychologists call social comparison. Seeing colleagues’ achievements can make you feel inadequate about your own career. This upward social comparison breeds anxiety about one’s professional growth. Comparing downward may temporarily relieve you, but can lead to self-doubt and judgment. You only know your full story. Compare your present self with the one that started this entrepreneurial/professional journey. This way, you’ll assess your growth.

The road to burnout

There’s extensive research on the relationship between social media addiction and job burnout, and not without reason. The pressure to maintain your online identity, keeping up with notifications and replies, can be emotionally exhausting. Also, checking social at work can blur the line between work and rest. Reducing this digital exposure by setting an hour limit, or by taking a day off from social media, could be the key to mitigate these effects.

The curator’s dilemma

Creating content that portrays a perfect professional self is stressful. Many people feel pressured to share only the highlights of their career or personal life and spend hours perfecting a post. This control over what you share can become burdensome, particularly when it doesn’t reflect reality. A made-up social media presence can also block you from genuine connections. Editing life stories in social media is fine (like changing names for privacy), as long as they remain true stories. In a platform full of GPT content, people long for real people and actual conversations.

Blurring boundaries

The extent of how much of your personal life should you bring to the professional online space is debatable. Fear of judgment pushes towards self-censorship, compromising authenticity for career safety. Finding that sweet spot between being true to oneself and maintaining a professional image is not just challenging, but often anxiety-inducing. To be safe, keep your political and social opinions to yourself, and avoid sensitive topics. If you’re just starting, you haven’t earned the right to controversial opinions yet. You’re not Elon Musk or JK Rowling. Your success in the future depends on focusing your social media presence on your craft and passions for the first five years.

The perfection paradox

One of the worst parts of the popularity of online job boards and digital business is the fear of being a failure. Before the internet, you could convince yourself that being in your twenties meant it was ok to just have fun and discover life. Now, it’s much harder to lean into leisure when pretty much everyone you know is starting a coaching business and posting about their great new side-hustle as a garlic bread influencer. If you are in your twenties, focus your online presence on sharing what you learn, and getting feedback from people ahead of you. Not only you won’t feel like failing, but you’ll be on your path to be a skilled and respectable professional.

Maintaining a professional presence on social media is difficult, and it’s not just another task on your to-do list. It’s a dance between being real, being strategic, and caring for your mental health. The first step to healthier digital habits is being aware of this reality. Set specific times for social media, share more of the real, unpolished moments of life, or simply be more mindful of the emotional poison of comparison. You need to create a space where your real self can breathe. By understanding and addressing these dynamics, you will begin using social media as leverage instead of letting it control your life.