But on Instagram, they’re all jammed into one continuous line, piquing every corner of our potential anxiety. They form a personalized mosaic of the lives we’re not living, choices we’re not making, and they force a type of pernicious comparison cycle. Each photo is just one in a tall stack of evidence, posted over months and years, pointing to how others are living the millennial dream: working at a cool job but not working too much; hanging out with a fun and supportive partner; if desired, raising cute and not cloying kids; taking unique vacations and making time for interesting hobbies.
