Scroll and Compare DIG

A short interactive story about self-esteem and social media use, inspired by real psychological research. Play as a young adult navigating Instagram, comparison culture, and your own well-being. [[Start]]

You scroll past pictures of vacations, promotions, workouts, and perfect morning routines. “Studies show that people who frequently view upward social comparisons on social media tend to report lower self-esteem.” — Vogel et al., 2014 [[Feel Envious]] [[Feel Inspired]]

You see your friend that sent you a graduation photo. You're happy for them, but now you're comparing your own progress. “Even when users are aware they’re seeing idealized content, the emotional effect of comparison still lowers self-worth.” — Vogel et al., 2014 [[Ask Your Friend About Their Journey]] [[Get Off Social Media]] [[Keep Scrolling]]

You close the app and take a breather. Maybe it's time to step away from the scroll. [[Reflect on Your Goals]] [[Reopen Instagram]]

Feeling Envious You stare at the screen, heart sinking a little. It feels like everyone is ahead — more successful, more attractive, more confident. You think, *“Why am I not doing as well?”* "Studies show that upward social comparison on social media is linked to lower self-esteem and greater dissatisfaction with life (Vogel)." You keep scrolling, even though it makes you feel worse. [[next]]

Great job, this is your first sign of growth. You're beginning to realise the true harm of comparison. [[continue]]

You ask your friend about their graduation, you reminisce on how much you two have grown up. You're freidn celebrates his graduation, realizing he's moved on, and is ready to tackle the real world. Meanwhile you're still yet to finish school. [[Feel Envious]] [[Feel Inspired]]

Congratulations, you've realized maybe endless scrolling isn't always healthy. Maybe it's something that you should limit from time to time once the feelings of envy, anxiety, or comparison start to creep in. You realize you've also made it a long way in your own journey, and that you too have things to celebrate. [[Ask Your Friend About Their Journey]] [[Reflect on Your Goals]] [[Feel Inspired]]

Congratulations, reflecting on your goals is a sign of maturity and growth. You begin to realize that everyone has their own path to their own version of success in life. Comparison, will only lead to an endless spiral [[continue]]

You continue to scroll through, post after post, comparison after comparison, and envy starts to creep in. [[Feel Envious]]

You wake up and check your phone. Instagram is the first thing you open. [[Keep Scrolling]] [[Check Messages]] [[Close App]]

Being aware when you start comparing, noticing what triggers it, and pausing before reacting can help reduce the emotional impact of comparison. Practicing gratitude can help reduce the focus on comparison, shifting it towards what you do have rather than what you do not. [[finale]]

Thank you for playing, growth is sometimes a long journey, but everyone starts somewhere. Even the smallest of wins should be celebrated. If you've ever struggled with comparing yourself to others, rememebr that "comparison is the thief of joy." [[Play Again]]

[[Start]]

You continue a spiral path of envy, worry, and the axious feeling of thinking you're behind. You continue to scroll and compare, questioning every choice you've made in your life up until these very moments. Almost like an endless loop of self judgment. [[Game Over]]

You've realised comparison lead to only a layer of imaginary, unfair, and harsh self-judgment. "comparison is the thief of joy" You have failed this test, but you are welcome to try again. [[Play Again]]