In the modern world, most people imagine “gods” as ancient myths or religious beings from old stories. But today, fake gods or what many now call fakegods quietly shape our everyday decisions, emotions, and lifestyle. These are not supernatural forces. They are ideas, trends, people, or systems that gain an almost god-like power over us. They influence how we think, what we buy, who we admire, and how we define success.
The surprising thing is this: fakegods often feel real because they blend into our lives so smoothly that we stop noticing them. To understand how deeply they control us, we must first see what they are and how they operate.
What Are Fake Gods in Today’s World?
Fake gods are anything we treat as more important than our own well-being, values, or identity. They take control when we allow external pressures to dictate our choices. Unlike traditional gods, fakegods don’t ask for rituals or prayers; they ask for attention, time, and emotional energy.
Some common fake gods include:
- Fame and social media popularity
- Money and material possessions
- Beauty standards
- Celebrity culture
- Technology and digital validation
- Trends that tell us who to be
Each of these looks harmless. But when they become the center of our decisions, they begin to control our everyday life in powerful ways.
The Fakegods of Social Media
If there is one place where fake gods rule with full power, it is social media. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube create an environment where approval from strangers becomes a currency.
People are constantly chasing:
- Likes
- Followers
- Shares
- Positive comments
- Viral attention
When these things matter more than real connections or real happiness, they become fake gods.
For example, someone may feel unhappy because their post didn’t get many likes, even if the moment they shared was truly meaningful. Another person might change their lifestyle just to keep up with trends that help them look “popular” online. In this way, social media becomes a temple, and digital approval becomes a modern idol.
The Fake Gods of Beauty and Perfection
Every day, people are bombarded with images of perfect faces, perfect bodies, and perfect lifestyles. Beauty is not wrong, but the pressure to look perfect at all times turns beauty into a fake god.
These fakegods whisper things like:
- “You’re not good enough.”
- “You must look like this to be loved.”
- “You need this product to feel confident.”
As a result, many people struggle with self-esteem, comparing themselves to edited photos that aren’t even real. Beauty becomes a never-ending race with no finish line. This fake god keeps people buying more products, following unrealistic routines, and shaping their self-worth through external appearance.
Money as a Fake God That Controls Choices
Money is necessary for survival, comfort, and opportunity. But when money becomes the ultimate symbol of success, it turns into one of the most powerful fake gods in society.
This fake god affects us by:
- Making us work even when we’re exhausted
- Keeping us in jobs we hate
- Pushing us to measure worth by income
- Causing stress, anxiety, and competition
People start to believe that happiness lies in buying more things, bigger houses, better cars, and expensive brands. But this creates a cycle of endless desire, where satisfaction is always temporary. Fakegods never let people feel complete; they always demand “more.”
Celebrity Culture: Worshipping People Like Gods
Modern society often treats celebrities like divine figures. Actors, singers, influencers, and athletes become symbols of perfection. Their lifestyles are admired, copied, and idealized.
We start to think:
- “If they do it, it must be right.”
- “If they wear it, I want it.”
- “If they support it, I believe it.”
But celebrities are human, not gods. When we place them on pedestals, we give them the power to shape our opinions and desires without thinking for ourselves. This is how the fake gods of celebrity culture influence our choices, whether it’s fashion, beliefs, or behavior.
Technology: The Silent Fakegod in Every Pocket
Most people check their phone the moment they wake up. Notifications, messages, videos, and updates constantly call for attention. When a device controls your time and focus, it becomes a fake god.
Technology becomes a fake gods when:
- We can’t stay offline for even an hour
- We measure productivity by apps
- We let algorithms decide what we watch or believe
- We feel anxious without our phone
Instead of using technology as a tool, many people feel like they are being controlled by it. The more connected we become, the more power the fakegods of technology gain.
Consumerism: Buying to Feel Good
One of the strongest fake gods today is consumer culture. Brands convince us that we must buy new products to upgrade our lives, become happier, or feel accepted.
New phone?
New shoes?
New makeup?
New car?
The fake gods of consumerism make us think that happiness is always one purchase away. But once the excitement fades, we start looking for the next thing, another promise, another illusion.
This cycle traps people in debt, stress, and endless desire.
How Fakegods Quietly Shape Our Emotions
Fake gods do not control people through force. They work through emotions, fear, desire, insecurity, pride, and comparison. They make us think:
- “I must be better than others.”
- “I must prove myself.”
- “People must approve of me.”
- “I need this to feel complete.”
These emotional triggers push us to behave in ways we don’t fully understand. Fakegods take advantage of our need for belonging, validation, and meaning.
How to Break Free from Fake Gods
You don’t need to remove everything from your life. The goal is to take control back. Here’s how to break free:
1. Recognize the fake gods
Awareness is the first step. Notice what controls your mood, thoughts, and decisions.
2. Set personal values
Know what truly matters to you: family, health, peace, creativity, growth.
3. Limit digital influence
Reduce screen time, unfollow accounts that create insecurity, and use social media with intention.
4. Stop comparing yourself
Everyone’s journey is different. Comparison is the tool fakegods use to make you feel weak.
5. Practice gratitude
Being thankful for what you have weakens the power of wanting “more.”
6. Focus on real connections
Friends and family bring real joy. Fake gods offer temporary highs, not long-term happiness.
Conclusion
Fake gods or fakegods are not mythical beings. They are powerful influences hiding in everyday life, controlling our decisions without us noticing. They use beauty standards, money, fame, technology, and social pressure to shape our behavior.
But once we recognize them, we gain the freedom to live more honestly, peacefully, and confidently. The key is simple: don’t give anything more power than it deserves. Real happiness comes from within, not from the fake gods of modern society.