Technology exposes us to limitless possibilities—from parenting styles to body modifications. This creates a pervasive insecurity and a 'rabid delusion of endless craving.' The constant awareness of what others are doing or have drives a pathological need to keep up, leading to profound consumerism and dissatisfaction.

Happiness isn't dictated by your objective situation but by the context you place it in. A Nokia phone is amazing until you see an iPhone; poverty is a state until you see wealth next door. Freeing yourself from constant comparison is key to finding intrinsic contentment.

Young people face a dual crisis: economic hardship and a psychological barrage from social media's curated success. This creates a "shame economy," where constant notifications of others' fake wealth intensify feelings of failure, loneliness, and anxiety more than any other societal factor.

While technology enriches the world on an absolute basis (e.g., flight, internet), it also dramatically expands our "comparison set" via social media. This paradox means that seeing others' seemingly better lives can make individuals feel more miserable, despite their own improved conditions.

Despite living with unprecedented wealth, many in the West feel a 'cost of living crisis.' This is because human happiness is dictated by a narrow frame of reference—we compare ourselves to our immediate peers, not to the global population or to past generations. Our sense of well-being is relative, not absolute.

Historically, financial comparison was contained within socioeconomically similar neighborhoods. Social media removes these geographic and social barriers, constantly exposing individuals to global, hyper-affluent lifestyles. This distorts the perception of 'normal,' making luxury seem common and fueling widespread feelings of financial inadequacy.

A major source of modern anxiety is the tendency to benchmark one's life against a minuscule fraction of outliers—the world's most famous and wealthy people. This creates a distorted view of success. Shifting focus to the vast majority of humanity provides a healthier perspective.

Unprecedented global prosperity creates a vacuum of real adversity, leading people to invent anxieties and fixate on trivial problems. Lacking the perspective from genuine struggle, many complain about first-world issues while ignoring their immense privilege, leading to a state where things are 'so good, it's bad.'

Humans learn what to want by observing others (mimetic desire). Social media expands our 'comparison set' to the entire world's curated highlights, creating a recipe for discontent. The solution is to be highly intentional about who you compare yourself to, carefully curating your inputs to align with your actual values and well-being.