I can't find it searching, but somewhere sometime I heard someone saying or read someone writing that "Comparison is the root of all sin."
On reflection, I think the unknown to me author/speaker is right.
First Timothy 6.10 reads, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Why could I fall into loving money? Because I want more than I have; I want more than someone else has. Comparison.
Which is why the lyrics of the Olivia Rodrigo song "Jealousy, Jealousy" (released in '21) are so telling of young...and not-so-young...people today:
"I kinda wanna throw my phone across the room
'Cause all I see are girls too good to be true
With paper-white teeth and perfect bodies, wish I didn't care
I know their beauty's not my lack, but it feels like that
Weight is on my back, and I can't let it go
Com-comparison is killing me slowly
I think I think too much 'bout kids who don't know me
I'm so sick of myself, I'd rather be, rather be
Anyone, anyone else, my jealousy, jealousy started following me
Started following me
And I see everyone getting all the things I want
I'm happy for them, but then again I'm not
Just cool vintage clothes and vacation photos
I can't stand it, oh, God, I sound crazy
Their win is not my loss
I know it's true, but I can't help getting caught up in it all
Com-comparison is killing me slowly
I think I think too much 'bout kids who don't know me
I'm so sick of myself, rather be, rather be
Anyone, anyone else, my jealousy, jealousy
All your friends are so cool, you go out every night
In your daddy's nice car, yeah, you're living the life
Got a pretty face, pretty boyfriend too
I wanna be you so bad and I don't even know you
All I see is what I should be
Happier, prettier, jealousy, jealousy
All I see, what I should be
I'm losing it, all I get's jealousy, jealousy
Com-comparison is killing me slowly
I think I think too much 'bout kids who don't know me
And I'm so sick of myself, rather be, rather be
Anyone, anyone else, my jealousy, jealousy
I'm so sick of myself, I'd rather be, rather be
Anyone, anyone else, jealousy, jealousy started following me."
The internet, social media is like pretty much everything else: pluses and minuses.
For my money the pluses still outweigh the minuses.
But we need to be aware of the minuses.