Commenting on a TikTok judging the people who made it. Showing your friend someone’s Instagram post and saying things like “This is so weird” or “Why would they post this picture?” These temptations are easy to give in to and often come with no repercussions.
Growing up in an era of viewing others through a screen has created a generation of people who lack empathy. We often feel far removed from the people we make fun of or criticize because the screen appears to distance us from our targets. In reality, we’re just curating a more pessimistic mind and teaching ourselves that we can negatively affect others’ lives without worrying about the consequences.
Liam Payne’s Reputation, Turned Comedy
Liam Payne’s case is a prime example of the brutality of social media. His record label supposedly dropped him shortly preceding his death not only because of misaligning views on the trajectory of his music career, but also because the public wouldn’t stop making jokes and memes about him.
A tweet posted by Payne stating “I’m sooo clumsy” was reposted by a user who responded, “We know.” This went on to be retweeted thousands of times. Comments like these contributed to Payne’s poor mental health, resulting in substance abuse and eventual death. These comments are not to be taken lightly in the social media realm, as they can have serious adverse effects on the celebrities they target.
After Liam Payne’s recent tragic death, the jokes surprisingly continued.
Landon Barker’s Diddy party?
Not only do people feel free to taunt celebrities online with harsh jokes, but they also love to assume the worst from celebrities in the name of creating drama. A recent development surrounding Travis Barker’s son Landon Barker had the public berating him online. People accused Landon Barker of intentionally attending a Diddy-themed party following Diddy’s arrest for multiple crimes.
In multiple TikToks Barker posted to deny the accusations and defend himself, he explained that he simply was invited to a party for his birthday, unaware of any theme or Diddy affiliation. He promised he didn’t know about the baby oil-themed bottle service, and when he finally understood the theme of the party, he didn’t condone any of it. People also accused Barker of telling his guests to join him in all-white, which is visibly untrue from a photo he released soon after.
Liam Payne’s career and even death were mocked online. People jumped to conclusions about Landon Barker hosting a Diddy-themed party, when in reality he was just getting a drink with friends in a night club.
People seek drama and jump to conclusions because they want the next big break in media news. It’s always about stirring the damn pot. Don’t be the person who contributes to toxic social media culture. Train yourself to identify negative thoughts that arise when using social media and give yourself a minute to step into someone else’s shoes.
How do you combat social media toxicity? Let us know on X @VALLEYmag.
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