Having recently been caught up in an argument about suspending someone from a Facebook page, the experience has focussed my thoughts on considering why some posts on social media can be so toxic.
One major reason is likely to be centred around the sort of anonymity social media provides: individuals can post things they would never say in person, so they resort to anonymity or using a false name. In the case, I got involved with, an accusation was initially made anonymously behind a Facebook page title until the originator was outed. The use of anonymity easily leads to cyberbullying, trolling and just plain harassment. It would certainly seem cowardly of people not to declare their true identity but anonymity also allows what might be termed 'vicarious anger' to be aimed at targets without taking responsibility for false allegations and accusations.
Another characteristic of cyberbullying is the sort of disinhibition social media can encourage. People often feel free to express their opinions and emotions online in a way they wouldn't face-to-face with a person. I have had an experience of this. When I was attacked online in a rude and aggressive fashion but then happened, accidentally, to bump into this person, he apologised for the tone he had taken – though I will never know how sincere the apology was.
A factor that can influence posts is often described by anthropologists and sociologists as 'negative cultural comparison', which will create negative consequences for individuals and society: for example, low self-esteem, cultural hostility and prejudice. Social media encourages people to compare themselves to others and this can lead to feelings of inadequacy. Because social media tends to highlight pleasurable images, people see others posting about their successes and happy moments. This can lead to some feeling their own experiences and lives don't measure up, resulting in toxic online postings born out of jealousy, envy and anger.
Terms we often hear about now are the 'echo chamber' or a 'social bubble' effect: this is when people are confined or are pushed, to the use of social media sites where they find like-minded users. They, then, are only exposed to content which reinforces their existing beliefs and prejudices, and opinions that align with their own. This can tend to reinforce extreme viewpoints and intolerance towards different perspectives, as well as fuelling bizarre conspiracy theories. During the early days of Covid 19, you could find on social media views that suggested Bill Gates was promoting vaccinations so a microchip could be inserted into people to control their behaviour.
Another factor is that the algorithms used by social media are designed to identify our interests and keep us engaged, by often prioritising 'likes', shares and comments. This can lead to clickbait, whereby sensationalised or misleading content is posted to attract attention and provoke a reaction. Fake news, false allegations and so on promote not only misleading views but also encourage bad behaviour.
It also has to be recognised that social media can become addictive, particularly among the young, leading to sleep deprivation and anxiety, which can end in depression. In some cases where there is extreme cyberbullying, this can lead to self-harm or even suicide.
Finally, on a positive note, social media can be a useful tool for connecting society as well as sharing information. However, all too often toxic postings create a harmful environment which results in unpleasant and negative effects both on individuals and society.
Reference your article “ why social media can be toxic” reminds me of U.S. gun laws i.e those “for” SM will say it’s harmless for those who use it as it is meant to be used, whilst others will argue that since we don’t seem to be able to control how or who uses SM (improperly) it should be banned. Personally, as someone who is old enough to have lived without it (SM) I’d rather it didn’t exist as I prefer a simpler life. 🤛👻