@spearmanlauren: Are we becoming so self absorbed that we’re starting to dismiss anything that feels unfamiliar or doesn’t reflect our own experience? There’s a word I love, sonder, which describes the realisation that everyone around us is living a life just as rich and complex as our own, and one of my favourite things about social media is getting a glimpse into other people’s lives. Different backgrounds, routines, perspectives, circumstances. All these wonderfully different ways of experiencing the world. I think there’s something really beautiful about that. But I wonder whether we’re becoming so accustomed to viewing everything through the lens of our own lives that we’re losing sight of the fact that our experience isn’t universal. Something doesn’t have to work for us to work for someone else. In fact, I think there’s so much to learn from seeing how differently people live. Sometimes it introduces us to something we’d never considered. Other times it reinforces what we don’t want, or what doesn’t feel right for us. What’s your take on this?
Lauren | Careering
Region: GB
Thursday 22 October 2026 07:36:31 GMT
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ledibundo :
Off topic but where if your jumper from??
2026-11-01 22:56:05
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rachel ♍️ :
Spot on. Everyone has main character syndrome
2026-10-22 08:24:35
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Fifty+ with Attitude 🪩 :
and the "try adding kids" comment 🙄
2026-10-22 07:46:32
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mxbombardier :
I think it's also a degree to which the influencer model has eaten everything, so everything is seen through the model of "this person is 'selling' me the thing they're talking about". I was talking to a colleague saying how I hated series 1 of a TV show, but series 2 was great, and bringing me a lot of joy. He asked "why are you trying to get me to watch something that only gets good after a whole series?" It baffled me, because at no point was this framed as a recommendation, just me talking about my weekend...
2026-10-22 15:53:52
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Jules F-C :
This thinking is adjacent to bean soup theory and drives me mad
2026-10-22 07:56:45
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Amy Edwards :
Unfortunately Lauren I think you're right. We seem to have become very closed off and closed minded
2026-10-22 07:45:03
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laurennnv :
It’s “what about me-ism” and I cannot stand it! 🙃
2026-10-22 21:12:43
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potatofalafel :
I love how fast you talk. It’s my rhythm
2026-10-22 07:47:01
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Bethany 🤎 | Home & Motherhood :
Must know where your jumper is from
2026-10-22 07:47:09
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chuffeddom :
I actually gave a talk on this phenomenon, I called it "The Podcastification of Language and Experience". That is in our social media world, we see so much hyperbole being thrown around because that presents the illusion of authority. for example, you can't just say this is my favourite cake, it has to be "this is the best cake in the world".
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My thesis in the talk was being on social media requires being able to hook people in, and that format of talking is becoming vernacular in our day to day.
2026-10-22 13:10:42
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Lennon2310 :
It is so drainnnning being in a world where people cannot accept that the universe does not solely revolve around them and the only experiences that are valid are their own
2026-10-22 09:25:31
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didsomebodysaypatricia :
Similar – not the same – I mentioned that I liked a particular CD from many years ago because it reminded me of a road trip. One of the people I was speaking to said “I don’t agree..”. ?? You don’t agree it reminds me of a road trip?? Weird.
2026-10-22 11:09:46
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Suzie Edge :
This drives me bonkers. It’s exhausting (for me 😆).
2026-10-22 13:34:39
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Natalie O'Neill :
Peope are always complaining about speed one way or another. Like I’m sorry but everyone’s gonna have a different preference so… I’m just gonna speak at whatever speed I feel makes sense at the time
2026-10-22 12:29:32
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Nikk123 :
YES, “we” are. Anecdotal evidence is also used soooo much in arguments, where it absolutely does not work.
2026-10-22 09:23:11
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Julie Mc :
Agree with you, Lauren. Other people’s lives, experiences and perspectives are hugely valuable ❤️
2026-10-23 12:53:12
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Laura :
This is actually seems parallel or related to the “bean soup” theory circling TikTok for a while, the idea that people can’t respond to online content without being “what about me…” as if they are the default. It’s like people have no awareness they aren’t the default setting?!
2026-10-22 09:33:34
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agnesandmassimo :
Hard agree, personal opinion is so important to share and an amazing part of social but I think the language distinction between opinion and fact has been lost on social 💭
2026-10-22 08:18:47
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Gemma from Emberfend :
It’s a more expanded version of the Bean Soup theory.
2026-10-22 15:18:12
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Hannah :
Me-ism on social media is draining
2026-10-22 09:01:13
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Hayley 🇺🇸🏴 :
social media algorithms being so tailored to people makes them think everything they consume is *for them*. it’s only going to get exponentially worse with the use of AI 🫠
2026-10-22 15:52:00
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TT | corporate babe :
I get the 1 comment here and there that I should slow down/I speak too quickly (I put captions on every single video mind you) 😭 but thousands of other people don’t have a problem with it/actually love that I just get to the point. A lot of people seem to want everything to be adapted to them specifically and can’t understand that’s just not how life works. Just can’t please everyone!
2026-10-23 07:28:54
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kate :
Absolutely. Me’ism is at its highest
2026-10-22 14:20:33
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Pepitasmom :
what do you mean everything on the internet and on my fyp isn't about me???
2026-10-22 16:48:57
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Sian Sydney Fielder :
Everyone's 24hours are so very different and I swear by this!!!
2026-10-22 09:48:40
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