How the f*** did people with low self esteem cope in the 90s?

I can't imagine relying on my own thoughts and not having the words of strangers on the internet!

Tracos · 51-55, M

self esteem was not constantly under pressure from internet.

there was no instagram, facebook, tiktok, linkedin or whatnot that consistantly flooded perception with pretty people (alledgdly) having wild successes 24/7 through carefully crafted posts emphasizing a single dimension

most of the feedback came from the people around you, and you quickly learned that pretty people were not pretty all of the time and definitely not pretty in all dimensions

PaleandPolluted · 36-40, F

@Tracos I had the need for validation before those existed. I discovered chatrooms at an early age.

Tracos · 51-55, M

@PaleandPolluted I appreciate the need... I think the need for validation is not a product of the internet.

but the internet created an overwhelming amount of extremely shallow gratifications of that need.

various social media platforms (and to some extent the old chatrooms in the early days of The Internet) are designed and self organizing to keep people hooked

its like real food has been replaced by engineered and overprocessed fast food. it hits the spot and it hits it extremely efficient, but it cant be called healthy for either body or mind