When the Reel Becomes More Real Than Life | Sona Kaushal Gupta | TEDxDIS Riverside Youth

Curated online lives are increasingly blurring the line between digital identity and everyday reality. This TEDxDIS Riverside Youth talk looks at how screen-based moments shape perception, sense of self, and how people experience daily life. It asks whether people are fully living their experiences or becoming more focused on how those experiences appear to others. The speaker, Dr. Sona J. Kaushal Gupta, is a medical doctor, neuropsychologist, and mental health advocate who works on stress prevention, particularly among young people.

• How curated online realities shape perception and self-image
• Whether everyday experiences are lived or performed for others
• Mental well-being and stress prevention among young people
• Speaker: Dr. Sona J. Kaushal Gupta, founder-director of PARI Foundation

In a world where moments are increasingly experienced through screens, the line between our digital identities and real lives is becoming harder to distinguish. This talk explores how curated online realities shape our perceptions, influence our sense of self, and affect the way we experience everyday life. It invites us to reflect on whether we are truly living our experiences or becoming more invested in how they appear to others. Dr. Sona J. Kaushal Gupta is a medical doctor, neuropsychologist, educator, author, and mental health advocate. With academic training from King George's Medical College, Lucknow, and extensive experience in medicine, teaching, and psychological counselling, she has dedicated her work to promoting mental well-being and preventing stress, particularly among children and young people. She is the Founder-Director of PARI Foundation, an organisation focused on mental health awareness and stress prevention. Through her advocacy and outreach, she works to encourage healthier coping mechanisms, emotional well-being, and greater awareness of the psychological challenges facing young people. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx