Nearly 96% of U.S. teens say they use the internet every day. With easy access to other people through the internet comes the effect of people feeling like they can say whatever they want about strangers. Social media has made users way too comfortable commenting on other people’s lives and bodies. Social media has already contributed to negative mental health enough.
Many issues correlate with the comfort people feel when commenting on others’ lives, usually leaving them under scrutiny for their image. Social media, such as Instagram, TikTok or Snapchat, is a glimpse into the private lives of other people. When scrolling through these apps, you may come across dance videos, day-in-the-life videos or someone singing to the camera. If a person, often a woman, is showing her body, no matter her size, comments revolve around it. People will say things about how a plus-size woman isn’t covering enough or a smaller woman should eat more and shouldn’t stand a certain way. No matter what someone looks like, they are scrutinized and criticized online.
Many people feel comfortable giving style advice as well. Former “Dance Moms” star Kalani Hilliker was recently married and leading up to her wedding, she showcased many outfits for her special occasion. From bachelorette dinners to party outfits, she gave people a look into her special time in depth.
Regardless of this being a time of happiness for her, people left her comment section filled with hate. Some comments suggested she get a stylist and noted the outfits weren’t a good fit, but why would she wear an outfit she didn’t like for such a special occasion? This is one example of how people hide hatred behind advice toward people they don’t know, and social media opens this channel.
Bodies and fashion aren’t the only things people freely comment on. In May, influencer Emilie Kiser’s 3-year-old son tragically passed away. People seemed to feel they deserved answers and to know all. They speculated and shared theories in comments and posts, while a mother was grieving the loss of her son.
This seemed to be a large invasion of privacy. Kiser even described how this loss demonstrated the lack of boundaries in online relationships and how, in the future, she will be setting more boundaries online.
Yes, you can care for someone and be devastated, considering how you have grown to know so much about a family. However, influencers are essentially strangers, and they are allowed space, especially when it is their real life being altered completely for the worse.
Audiences feel entitled to know everything, but it isn’t access that is truly deserved. People don’t typically try to pry information from strangers on the street.
Social media has created a false sense of closeness to the people we see on the screen. It also leaves enough distance so that a comment feels less extreme than the real world. This blend is dangerous as people receive unwarranted comments, advice and pressure to share everything about themselves. People are too comfortable using social media to purposely and negatively affect others' lives. This affects other people’s real lives. People are real, not just two-dimensional figures glowing on a phone screen for entertainment.
Kyra Dapore is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk more about it? Let Kyra know by emailing her at kd364521@ohio.edu.
