There is one simple truth in this world: everybody lies. We live in a world of Facebook and Instagram posts where everyone is laughing, popular, skinny, and living perfect happy lives. The world is out enjoying a great Friday night and you’re sitting on the sofa binge watching The Office for the sixth time.
But hidden beneath all the filters, retakes, and Photoshop skills is the truth. Everybody lies and the route to the truth is through internet search histories. Intrigued? I was, so I just finished reading Everybody Lies: Big data, new data, and what the internet can tell us about who we really are.
People lie to their friends, family, acquaintances, and to surveys. The problem in research is so huge it has an official term- social desirability. Even on anonymous internet surveys people lie about their behaviors and opinions to appear more socially desirable. Thus enters this book which uses internet search histories to answer questions with the least amount of social desirability skewing results as possible.
Now this book is not technically about mental health. Technically this book is about research, technology, and random facts like violent films actually reduces crime rates (because if you’re watching a movie you’re not getting drunk and making stupid decisions.) But this book does have discoveries that can improve everyone’s mental health.
Millions of people have searched up ways to lose weight or get plastic surgery. But the surprising news is that way fewer people have searched up how to convince their partners to change. So for all of you out there with body images issues be comforted by the fact that you are definitely not alone and chances are your fears are yours alone. Your partner loves you for who you are. Or for all the single people out there don’t worry, millions of people are lying about how much sex they’re having.
And no need to feel guilty if you stop midway through that one popular best seller. Turns out the majority of people don’t read books all the way through (which then makes me question why I’m writing this…… oops).
The point is that it is easy to listen to your mental health problems that whisper “You are alone. You are the problem. Everyone else is perfect.” But that voice is lying to you just like socially desirable Facebook posts. Everyone has problems and fears, and now we can even prove it with data.
You are never alone. Just ask the internet!
One positive change at a time- Cat