Chasing Likes, Losing Sense: Social Validation to Personal, Financial Awareness

In a world obsessed with social media, influencers, and the relentless pursuit of instant gratification, how are we supposed to see the wood for the trees? I’m on a mission to share the raw emotion and mentality involved with the challenges for GenZ personal finance. And we have to begin with:

What’s authentic?
What’s real?
What’s just a carefully crafted façade, posted to gain approval?
And—perhaps more importantly—how do we even begin to tell the difference?

The Rise of the Virtual World

As someone in my mid to late twenties, I’ve witnessed the rapid rise of social media firsthand. I was a teenager when I first stumbled across Facebook. Instagram followed not long after, and then Twitter (now X) came into play.

But before all of that, my early life was spent outdoors—playing sports, running around the streets with my friends, being present in the world around me. Everything started to shift around the middle of secondary school. Suddenly, my attention turned from enjoying real life to obsessing over likes and follower counts.

The world was literally passing me by, while I stared down at my Blackberry, waiting for a ping.

(Side note: I’m still confused about how a business phone became the teenage status symbol of the decade (Where I lived) —but if you had one, you were instantly “cool.” Don’t even get me started on the iPhone.

Trying to Fit In

I’ve always been an introvert with extroverted tendencies—if that even makes sense. I love my own space, but I value meaningful time with close friends and family. Like many teens, my biggest wish back then was to fit in. To be popular. To be accepted.

Looking back, I now see how much I was bending and reshaping myself to win approval. And social media only poured fuel on that fire. It wasn’t until I reached my mid-to-late 20s that I started returning to who I really am. That realisation—that I wasn’t true to myself for so long—still makes me uneasy.

What Does This Have to Do with Personal Finance?

You’re probably wondering: “This is GenZ Personal Finance… what does social media and being cool have to do with money?”

Let me explain.

That desperate need to be accepted, especially at the beginning of your career, is a dangerous combo. You’re surrounded by curated images of people living seemingly perfect lives—traveling, wearing designer clothes, driving flashy cars. You’re working a job, maybe your first real one, and you’ve got regular income.

But here’s the kicker: that income is rarely enough to support the lifestyle you’re trying to keep up with.

I know, because I’ve been there.

I chased instant gratification. Whether it was new tech, fresh trainers, or a night out—I wanted it. And I wanted it now. But the truth was, as an apprentice, my paycheck couldn’t stretch that far.

The Cost of “Keeping Up”

My introduction to personal finance was the basics required when one starts work, i’d cover my essentials—contribute to the household, treat myself to some new clothes, go out on weekends. But halfway through the month, I’d be broke. And then? A gig would come up. Everyone was going. I didn’t want to miss out.

The sensible choice would’ve been to skip it.

But my need for approval? It couldn’t accept that.

Enter: the credit card.

A magical little piece of plastic that promised freedom. And just like that, I started funding a lifestyle I couldn’t afford with money I didn’t actually have.

That’s when the snowball began.
And trust me—it builds fast.

Why I’m Writing This Blog

I started this blog after having a serious wake-up call about the state of my finances. More importantly, I started asking why I ended up in this situation. I realised I was never taught anything about personal finance or debt growing up. And I suspect I’m not alone.

Let me be clear: I’m not here to demonize social media. It has so many benefits. But it’s a double-edged sword—and without the tools to navigate it, it’s easy to fall for the illusion.

There’s no filter that shows you what’s real and what’s fake.

And when you’re constantly exposed to filtered versions of reality, it’s easy to believe that’s where you should be. That belief can lead you straight into debt trying to “keep up.”

I don’t blame anything or anyone other than myself for the mistakes I made, I just wasn’t emotionally intelligent enough to realise their power when compounded. But it is important to understand where our vulnerabilities may lie as modern-day human beings.

This is just the beginning at GenZ Personal Finance. In future posts, I’ll be sharing:

            •          The steps I’m taking to regain control of my finances

            •          What I wish I knew earlier about money and mindset

            •          Tips and lessons for anyone who’s feeling the pressure to “keep up”

If any of this resonated with you, stick around. You’re not alone—and I hope by sharing my journey, I can help others avoid some of the mistakes I made.

Thanks for reading.

More soon.