There are a lot of social movements on the web. The best of which spread positivity – reinforcing the online community through positive posting.
The ripple effect
Have you ever witnessed the contagiousness of people being nice to others? One person says or does something kind to someone else and upon feeling that love, the recipient does something nice for someone else. That ripple effect is also found in social media. Users can choose to use positive hashtags which, in turn, creates a more positive community. One of the most popular hashtags for 2019 on Instagram was #love where users posted pictures of family, friends, vacations or sceneries. Overall it has had a very positive impact. Love brings about togetherness, unity, support and a vital sense of belonging.
For example, a simple act of kindness can be left in the form of a like or comment on a picture that has none. In a recent study acknowledged by HuffPost, Instagram took away the like feature. This enabled users of the social media platform to focus on simply posting a picture, without seeking validation in the form of likes. Too many people today base their value and worth off of how much engagement is shown on their posts.
What went wrong?
There is an ongoing discussion regarding social media users having fewer likes, with possible reasons ranging from having or expressing the wrong subjects, stopping a good technique, the hashtags used, the timing of the post, and lack of responsive nature. Worsening the situation is when someone gets bullied based on what they decide to post.
Always remember, you are more than the likes that you receive and likes do not validate the amazing person that you are. Be encouraged everyday by the truth of that fact.
Cyberbullying is willful and repeated harm by use of demeaning, threatening and/or intimidating language or imagery, expressed through electronic communication. One of the worst things about cyberbullying is that it can seem as though there is no hiding for the individual being targeted and the act can be seen or even joined, by a large audience.
Behind the screen, aggressors feel more confident and secure to harass others. Many are more comfortable harassing others on social media, opposed to in person, as they feel shrouded by anonymity. If you find yourself a target of cyberbullying, understand it is likely not even about you. The person displaying aggressive behavior undoubtedly has their own issues they are experiencing.
There are an abundance of reasons why bullying occurs, ranging from a lack of impulse control, desire to feel powerful or popular, seeking payback, problems – such as neglect living in an abusive home, pleasure – lacking empathy can make hurtful jokes funny, prejudices and/or peer pressure.
However, if a target of social aggression remains polite, positive, perseverant, peaceful, patient and compassionate, they can emerge victorious. Believe in yourself and your worth. Be kind. Give of yourself to your peers and community.
It’s your time to shine
I challenge you to be a social uplifter! If you notice a post with few or no likes, leave a positive or encouraging comment. Help those who choose to share feel uplifted through active engagement. This can be a huge relief to someone who is being attacked or bullied, or it can be fun to do completely randomly, too! It is a great way to showcase inclusion and humanity in the digital age. Next time you find yourself mindlessly scrolling, devote a few minutes to positive posting.
