Relationships on social media have become so weird. Online hostility and parasocial relationships are getting out of hand. Every day, people argue with strangers in comment sections and form opinions on 30 second videos. Our sense of connection has completely changed. Toxic comment sections have become normalized over all platforms, but I see it the worst on TikTok. When you open the comments, it’s common to see people being bullied or being told to harm themselves. The lack of empathy online has become ordinary. Why are we openly being so mean to random strangers online? Users have gotten used to the comfort of hiding behind a screen, and without being able to see the person’s reaction, empathy has begun to decrease. The constant stream of negativity online has been way to normalized, in fact, it has started to get praise. When people argue in the comments or when a user posts an emotional video, it gets pushed out into the algorithm more. Social media platforms are all about views so if negativity is what is going to get someone views, that’s what they’re going to post. Going viral should not be the reward for internet torment. The obsession with teen celebrities has also gotten out of control. Many internet users are over invested and fixated on these famous teenagers and their lives. The ones that I’ve seen the most currently are about the members of the “Glow House” and the people they hang out with. Their fans often “ship” creators based on one or a brief interaction. This obsession blurs the line between reality and fantasy, making these real people turn into characters. Fans begin to form one-sided connections and get upset when their favorite influencer acts differently than expected. This puts a lot of pressure on these teenagers to keep posting parts of their personal lives to keep their followers happy. The kids that you’re idolizing are just as old, if not younger than you are. These teenagers need to live their lives and it’s okay for them to keep parts of their life private. Their life is not a TV show. It’s not just the famous TikTok teenagers. It’s happening with all celebrities. People become shocked and upset when they find out their favorite celebrity is dating someone. It’s important to remember that these influencers and celebrities and real people have their own life. Being infatuated with their personal life is not healthy. It’s okay to have your comfort or favorite online figures but there’s a difference between that and obsession. The internet was made to connect people but empathy and respect are still important, even if it’s not face to face. It’s crucial to take a step back and remember that there are real people behind the screens. Boundaries need to be relearned on the internet.
