How toxic are social networks?

Over the past few weeks, I've been wondering how toxic social networks are in how users interact with each other.

I have analyzed the comment behavior among various reports, posts, entries and videos postings in different networks.

I noticed that there are different comment cultures in different networks, which are completely different depending on the user group.

Facebook

For example, if you take Facebook, depending on which group or bubble you are in, there are totally different reactions to a post. Sure, it's a matter of topic, but it's about something else.

If I read in an article of the Frankfurter Allgemeine about some Corona decision and give my opinion or a comment about it and write in this, for example, that I think that's okay, I have to do directly with a giant shitstorm. And that is from people who are against these regulations, or even do not believe in Corona at all. This can become with under not beautiful and go along with many insults.

Likewise, it can happen that there is a lot of applause for one's own thoughts, from people who share the same opinion. It always depends on the environment in which you move. If you move in your own bladder, everything is good and beautiful but if you get to the edge of the bladder and touch other bubbles, then it becomes toxic. Especially if you are against the opinion that prevails in the other bubble.

Twitter

Twitter is generally difficult. There's a pretty complacent tone there. I think a lot of the writers are sitting at home in front of their computer, their cell phone and think they've eaten the wisdom with spoons. In addition, they write exactly in this way their texts. Namely, short and concise. Pretty nasty, but nasty isn't the right word for it. Evil and with a deadly precession it is more likely. I believe that Twitter users are working on their texts for the longest time, so that they sit precisely.

Twitter is anyway a place for cynicism, for bare cynicism or also to spread information quickly and easily. If I have a problem with a company, I'll see if that company has a Twitter account. There, companies almost always react quickly, which also has its advantages.

TikTok

Especially negatively I noticed the platform TikTok. But first I would like to go back to another video, portal or platform. And that's YouTube. In YouTube you can see exactly the age difference between the different users. You get a lot of nasty comments from the younger audience. It will also like to assume that you should wash yourself or have your hair cut or that you are so fat that you can no longer pass through the door.

But on the whole, if you do not necessarily make videos for a younger audience, but for an older one, such comments are limited and you get a lot of constructive criticism, but also a lot of praise.

But TikTok yes, this is a completely different construction site. TikTok states that 66 % the user is under 30 and I would even say that at least 50 % of which are under 18 years old.

TikTok is a portal or platform that allows you to consume and create videos with short runtime or playtime. There is also the function of a livestream. You can express yourself creatively, be it with constructive critical content or simply entertaining funny nonsense. And that makes this platform so interesting.

Similar to Twitter, there is a limitation. It is best to run videos with a short playing time of 15 seconds. It is also possible to create videos that are 60 seconds long. Recently, this is also possible with a recording time of 180 seconds. However, these longer videos run much worse, but they are also seen.

You only have to be aware of one thing, namely that the mostly younger viewers all have very sharp and malignant tongue. And anything that doesn't conform to the norm has to be exposed. Be it a dialect, the look, the hairstyle or that you pronounce a word strangely. Everything is presented to you down to the smallest detail and this is made known with really harsh hatred and with insults under the belt line.

Of course, there are exceptions here too, where positive reactions or constructive criticism are also given. But this is rarely the case. And if so, this does not stand out. Because the huge wave of hatred and intolerance is simply too great on TikTok.

Similar to Twitch and YouTube, you can also go live in TikTok. Here it is the same, you really get a lot and not nice comments to hear or read. And if you don't respond to them, you'll get excited that these things are being ignored. When a stream begins, say, with 600 viewers, you can often only talk reasonably to people when the number of viewers has fallen to under 40 …

This is quite sad and as someone who has been live on YouTube many times, it was completely unknown to me that there are such comments in such proportions.

Twitch

It's different on Twitch, too. It's a bit like TikTok, but also a bit like YouTube. The comments are mostly more friendly, of course there is sometimes someone who has something to complain about or likes to write a stupid comment. Reply to the comment, but then the smart filter that is available at Twitch. This makes it possible, for example, to immediately filter out insults or sexual allusions and, for example, to delete them or to block the user.

This makes the whole thing more pleasant if you stream there and there is a moderation that automatically recognizes swear words and gives quasi this right to action or even lets a person decide (a moderator) or even the content creator himself, whether this is now going through or is blocked.

Instagram

There are also different comment cultures on Instagram, depending on the target group of the account and the topic of the posts. Basically, though, Instagram is a platform that focuses on visual content, and it can be harder to spark in-depth discussions or controversy. Instead, likes and short comments such as ‘Beautiful image’ or ‘Super Look!’ are often left behind.

However, Instagram can also have a negative impact on mental health, as the platform often serves as a ‘highlight reel’ for the lives of others and presents an unattainable ideal of beauty. This can cause users to compare and feel bad when they can't keep up. In addition, there can also be bullying and harassment on Instagram.

Reddit

Reddit is a platform where users can subscribe to various ‘subreddits’ that belong to specific thematic areas. There are often lively discussions and debates here, as Reddit offers an anonymous comment function and users can often express their opinions freely. However, toxic behavior can also occur here, especially in the subreddits that deal with political or controversial issues.

WhatsApp

Although WhatsApp is primarily considered a messenger app rather than a social network, it can also have an impact on interpersonal communication. Particularly in group chats, conflicts and misunderstandings can occur, as nonverbal communication is lacking and messages can be easily taken out of context. Again, it is important to communicate respectfully and attentively.

A few thoughts on this

Now I have presented a number of social networks and ways to present yourself artistically on the Internet and also the advantages and disadvantages that these platforms have to offer. And have also reported with the handling of hate speech or insults on the net.

I think so. The fact that it has become much more unpleasant to present yourself on the Internet today than it was twenty years ago. Access is now easier than ever. You can be at home, sitting in your room, talking to each other with your smartphone in your hand. There can blow his frustration, displeasure or even the bare hatred of man out into the world.

Twenty years ago, the possibilities weren't there. And access to the Internet. It's a little more difficult. At the time, not everyone had the Internet in their pockets and if so, it was so expensive that hardly anyone could afford it.

For me, especially in recent months, perhaps also because of the pandemic and the frustration that so many people currently have, has become aware that the Internet, but especially the social networks, have become very toxic. Especially in dealing with each other. People's skin has somehow become much thinner. And conflicts and misunderstandings occur more quickly, resulting in intoxication and hostility.

I realize it myself, and I'm someone who really doesn't go out much. This pandemic-related regulations and behaviour affect me very little. And even with me, I realize that my skin is getting thinner and thinner and that's why I've just locked up a lot of people. Even people I've been following on Facebook for several years are currently muted because I just can't stand what they have to say.

My conclusion

So my conclusion is that social networks are very toxic at the moment. Why do I think so? On the one hand this is hated, i.e. the sending of hate comments is already celebrated as a group event and on the other hand there is absolutely no guilt understanding. If you are blocked because of the insults in the chat, these users come back via other profiles or on other platforms. Where you then do the work of finding the one who complained about being banned. And that you want to be unblocked because you and I are now quoting “nothing has been done”. This is something you really get to read very often.

Furthermore, you cannot imagine how often you are asked the same thing. And if you overlook these questions, you'll be complaining that you're ignoring it. But if you didn't do that, you wouldn't be able to offer meaningful content. Because you always have to answer the same 3 to 6 questions. There really is no understanding that these questions are asked every minute, even though they have already been answered a hundred times. And for these and many other reasons, social networks are toxic.

How do you see that? And what kind of opinion do you have about it? I would love to know, so write it in the comments, I would be very happy about it.

Your Sasha

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