The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality

Montell critically explores the psychological effects of social media, particularly how it distorts individuals’ perceptions of themselves and others. Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook create curated realities that deeply affect users’ sense of self-worth, identity, and social connection. Montell reflects on her own experience with Instagram, describing how her life began to feel increasingly “out of body” as she spent more time immersed in the platform, where the boundaries between online personas and real life became blurred (73). This disconnection from reality is one of the central psychological consequences of social media that Montell addresses throughout the book.

One of the key aspects that Montell critiques is the parasocial relationships that social media fosters between users and celebrities. Social media encourages people to feel as though they have an intimate connection with public figures because of the personal content that celebrities often share. Montell highlights the dangers of this, noting that “celebrities also ‘play’ themselves online, carefully crafting the version of their personalities they present to the public” (17). However, social media makes it appear as if users are privy to these celebrities’ real, unfiltered lives. This creates a false sense of intimacy, where “Instagram captions appear like letters from a loved one” and posts seem like personal interactions, drawing users further into a fantasy (17).