How Many Followers Until You're Happy?

On April 24, 2025, the headlines blared with shock and sorrow: “Misha Agrawal’s sister says she died by suicide after losing Instagram followers: ‘Goal was to reach 1 million.’”

It wasn’t just another tragic news story. It was a haunting echo of a generation struggling with digital validation.

Misha Agrawal, a 25-year-old law graduate, a Provincial Civil Services – Judicial (PCSJ) aspirant, and a startup founder, seemingly had everything. She was intelligent, accomplished, spiritually grounded, and blessed with a loving, supportive family. She was a Mahadev devotee, someone whose life should have been filled with meaning far beyond screens. Yet, her life came to a tragic end—all because of a decreasing follower count on Instagram.

Her sister, Mukta, revealed that Misha's goal was to reach one million followers. She had built her self-worth around her digital presence. When those numbers started dropping, so did her self-esteem. Despite reminders of her achievements, her talents, and her bright future, she found herself unable to detach from the digital pressure.

And that’s the question that now stares all of us in the face: How many followers until you’re happy?

The Invisible Weight of Social Media

Social media platforms were built to connect us. Today, they often do the opposite—isolating us in echo chambers of comparison, anxiety, and curated perfection. According to a 2023 report by the World Health Organisation, over 60% of Gen Z users report feeling anxious or inadequate due to social media. And while the platforms promise creativity and connection, they’re wired for competition and performance.

Misha’s story illustrates this dark irony. Despite her intelligence and strong academic record, the emotional algorithm of Instagram—likes, followers, views—gradually became her internal compass. It overpowered everything else: purpose, faith, love, achievement.

Numbers That Numb Us

It’s not about being weak. It’s about being human in a digital environment designed to exploit our psychology. The dopamine hits from likes and follows mimic drug-like rewards. And when those numbers drop, the withdrawals begin.

Misha wasn't alone. A 2022 study published in The Lancet Psychiatry linked excessive social media engagement with increased depression and suicidal ideation, especially among young women. Another alarming stat: Instagram is the most detrimental social media app for mental health, particularly due to appearance-based comparison and validation loops.

But She Had Everything…

That’s what people say.

“She had a law degree.”
“She was preparing to be a judge.”
“She had her own business.”
“She had a loving family.”
“She was spiritual.”

And yet, it wasn’t enough.

Because when you’re living in a world where self-worth is defined by hearts on a screen, real-world success begins to feel… muted. Achievements don’t trend. Consistency doesn’t go viral. And peace, faith, or inner strength rarely get engagement.

Who Is Failing Whom?

Is this a personal tragedy or a societal failure? Misha’s death is not a standalone event. It is a mirror reflecting the crisis of our generation—one where internal validation is overruled by external approval.

Our culture has normalised hustle, visibility, and performance to such a degree that silence, pause, privacy, and self-reflection now feel like liabilities. Influencers, like Misha, live under 24/7 surveillance, not by governments, but by followers. By us.

Digital Dreams, Real-Life Consequences

Building a brand, creating content, growing followers—these aren’t inherently toxic. But when they replace the foundation of identity, they become destructive.

Misha’s goal wasn’t just about followers. It was about feeling seen, loved, and worthy. The tragedy is that she already was—by her family, by her friends, by her God. But digital validation blurred all of that.

What We Must Learn from Misha

Let this not be just another tragic headline. Let this story pause our scroll and provoke thought:

• Check on your strong friends. They might be performing happiness while feeling hollow.

• Talk about digital mental health. Make it a dinner table conversation.

• Redefine success. Applaud effort, character, and resilience—not just numbers.

• Protect your peace. Curate your feed, but more importantly, curate your mind.

• Love louder. Tell people they matter outside the internet.

We Need a Digital Detox Culture

The solution isn’t abandoning social media. It’s redesigning our relationship with it. We need to build a culture that:

• Promotes authenticity over aesthetics

• Celebrates breaks, not just hustle

• Rewards impact, not just influence

• Values presence, not performance

Social media can be a tool for good—but only when it doesn’t become the lens through which we measure our worth.

In Memory of Misha

Misha Agrawal was more than her follower count. She was a daughter, a sister, a scholar, a dreamer, a believer. Let her legacy be a reminder that digital applause can never replace human connection, spiritual grounding, and self-love.

Her loss must serve as a wake-up call to all of us.

Likes can wait. Life cannot. 

Share. Speak. Support.

If this story moved you, share it—not for clicks, but for awareness. Speak up when someone you know is drowning in digital pressure. Support mental health advocacy, online and offline.

You are enough. Even when the numbers say otherwise.