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Why We Act Like A**holes on Social Media
And what we can do about it
You see something you don’t like, so you say something, and often, it’s not very nice.
When someones posts content on their social media page with which you vehemently disagree, there’s the high likelihood you’re going to respond. Often that response comes across in a snarky, sarcastic, and generally disparaging manner. Some people are downright viscous and abusive in their response to things that are in contrast with their own opinions or beliefs. This is especially prevalent now-a-days with our current state of heightened emotion, fear, anger, and frustration. I think 2020 has been one of the most caustic years of our lifetime, and it’s not even over! But I digress…
Why is that? Why is it that people who are genuinely nice people- people who typically conduct themselves and interactions with strangers in a decent, polite, and respectful manner in real life, turn into rabid blood sucking demon trolls online?
The internet and social media platforms offer us the potential for broader community, cooperation, and communication. However, instead of leveraging it as an extension of our social circles and the immediate world around us, it has created a from of tribe mentality full of conflict, judgment, blame, and hate.