How real is social media envy?

Instagram, the photo-sharing social media platform, has 700 million active users.
(Martina Novakova, pastbook.com)

I hate when people hate on kid celebrities. Regular people believe prodigies are given handouts. Stars like Jaden Smith, Kylie Jenner, and even Bindi Irwin are seen as needless, even greedy for hogging all of the spotlights from everyone else. 

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, or Jaden Smith, is the middle child of Jada and Will Smith. The Smiths do not need an introduction. Jada has demonstrated her abilities across films such as Jason's Lyric, Set It Off, and most recently, Girls Trip which was said to have "prove[d] [the] power of diversity" (McClintock, 2017). Will Smith looked stunning in his most recent role as the Genie in Aladdin amongst numerous other accomplishments such as winning four Grammy Awards.

Equally as his sister, Willow Smith, has also shone her light to the world, so has Jaden. At six years old, Jaden stole our hearts in The Pursuit of Happyness. He is ahead of time with his fashion sense while also possessing a keen ear to the world around us. In 2016, Jaden caused an uproar across social media all because he wore a skirt. Big whoop. When he was only twelve years old, he became interested in the company Just Water--an institution with great hopes to spread clean and most importantly, clean, water to impoverished areas. Jaden's new album, Erys, has a slew of supreme artists including his sister, Tyler the Creator, and A$AP Rocky to name a few of the many legends.

Left to Right: Jaden Smith, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Willow Smith
(@jadapinkettsmith)

In every field, across all industries, there is a destined family dominating its social ladder. Think about your favorite actress, rapper, author, musician, producer, and then think about their children. In the famously known movie, Knocked Up, the children of director Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann played the childrens’ roles.

Iris Apatow's Instagram

At the age of 20 and 15, Maude and Iris Apatow are pursuing their own endeavors. As time speeds forward along with technological advances, it is hard to keep up with who’s who to know. Our identities are being captured across multiple social media platforms. Some people take pictures of their daily three meals every single day, slap a filter onto it, and receive millions of views, reactions, and opportunities. A new star, a new protege is always lurking around the corner if you’re not careful.  

Do the things: pictures, videos, music that you post online matter to you? Do you post the content you would want your children to one day grow up and dig out of some dark, Internet hole one day? What are your values?

Everyone has stopped asking questions. Viral videos, whether you agree with them or not, are constantly on your news feed. Your online friends are in love with a person you pretend to be. The hit TV show Catfish continues to be aired for…. how many seasons now? 

At some point in our lives, we have to choose to view life differently. I’m not sure where that rule is in the imaginary book titled “How to Live a Perfect Life,” but I am sure it is there somewhere. Each choice we decide to make, every single day, matters. We live in a country that does not want us to imagine but instead shuffle around on their time, doing work that does not excite us. So, when we see people who are living exciting lives, it bothers us. You can admit that to yourself now, or later. Envy is a part of the emotion spectrum just like the happiness you think you want, is. The pictures you scroll past, the videos you watch, the ads you see in the middle of all that are all designed to trap you, in some way or some form. 

This is why you must live your truth. 

I believe you can do it. I believe in you because I believe in myself as well. Chase your heart, follow what has always been dying inside to be asked. Live a little. Shake a leg. And enjoy every minute of it. 

♥ Lyric Loves

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