New Year is usually a time for a fresh start, the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, a time for gratitude, hope and happiness. We share gifts and joy and all the other good things. But with social media being the main form of interaction these days, moral obligations and human values take a back seat. This frustrated rant of mine is not baseless. You bet it has a source. It is this post that is being posted on many Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook accounts that read “Few days left for 2018. I just wanna say that if I hurt you, was rude to you or made you feel sad, you probably deserved it you lil piece of shit”.
When did we humans stop being nice to each other? The lack of consequences of our actions on social media has driven many of us into being cold-hearted, loud-mouthed savages on that platform. Some of you may argue that I’m being a butt-hurt Grandma who doesn’t know how to “take it lightly”. This isn’t about these posts offending me, but about the general narcissistic nature our generation.
From publicly “roasting” each other (the usage makes total sense because the act can be compared to having that person’s soul spiked on a skewer, on a pit fire while others gather around and rejoice), to people trying to set unattainable beauty and body standards. This amazing thing that helps us connect to a wider audience and have a voice in a world that was earlier only subscribed to the more powerful, is now mainly used for shaming, hate and insensitive behaviour.
When did the internet become the go-to place for spreading hate? When did we become this? And why is no one trying to snap out of it?
We need to stop this behaviour as soon as it can be humanly possible. So, just be nice to each other this year. Send each other love. Drop sweet messages and encouraging comments on their posts. Feed their ego (in a good way of course), boost their self-confidence. Life is hard as it is. Spread joy, light, glitter and rainbows.
Have a blessed year ahead!