Why Do Some People Always Write Negative Things On Social Media Being used to social media, you must have seen negative comments and posts coming. Or, perhaps you are writing negatively at times. Why do people make negative comments on social media? What is the psychological reason behind it?
Kathmandu University, English Department Professor Dr According to Siddharth Dhungana, people write negatively on social media for various reasons. One of them is urban psychology.
“People use social media as an excuse to get rid of anxiety when they cannot assimilate urban psychology,” Dr Dhungana says, “Especially when modernization is expanding, we are not able to move forward. Psychology needs relaxation in that. People comment negatively on its relaxing process. “
Dr According to Dhungana, in the ‘relaxing’ process of psychology, people cannot remember what they have commented when new information is coming in social media feeds. He says that people will react negatively due to momentary excitement.
She says, “Once you get addicted to social media, you can’t focus on other things. As a result, the work is affected, not exercising, not working, not studying. When this happens, it affects the person financially and mentally. The social network becomes a place to express that passion.”
A person does not have to come from a real identity in social networks. Whoever creates an account with any name. In the context of using someone else’s name or photo, this topic is connected to cybercrime. In this way, the real identity of the person does not come out because of the facility of using it anonymously. Prajapati says that despite being sure of that, it is the nature of some people to give negative feedback on social media.
Likewise, they feel that their relatives, friends or acquaintances don’t know when they make obscene or negative comments. And they comment. While on Facebook and other social networks, it is not possible to say when the comments made on public posts will be delivered to whose feed.
Dr. The various psychological causes pointed out by Dhungana and Prajapati are listed here:
1) Lack of anonymity and accountability
Social media platforms have the facility to remain anonymous. Being anonymous, people are less hesitant to give feedback. As a result, they may express more negativity than in a direct talking situation. This is called the ‘Disinhibition Effect’ online. When users experience anonymity, they feel that they do not have to face the direct consequences of their behaviour. which may encourage them to make hurtful or critical comments.
2) Social comparison
People often compare themselves to others on social media. It can bring feelings of helplessness, jealousy or frustration. As an emotional response, people are motivated to make negative comments. This is consistent with social comparison theory where envy can arise from seeing the success or happiness of others. It may inspire some to get angry.
3) Attention-grabbing
For some people, negative comments can be an ‘attention seeker’, a way to draw attention to themselves. For that, users take the help of ‘trolls’ or paradox ideas. Social media is going to be the most appropriate way to publish such content and draw the attention of others. A person who thinks negatively and contradicts himself is more likely to be seen by others quickly than a person who thinks positively. This is why people are negative on social media.
4. Group mentality
The ‘bandwagon effect’ or group mentality (crowd mentality) can lead people to make negative comments. Especially if someone has a negative opinion, some support it considering it as their opinion. When there is a majority of people with the same negative thoughts, it turns into ‘toxic behaviour’.
5) Means of emotional expression
For some, social media is a way to express their frustration, anger or stress. When people are already emotionally disturbed, they may be more inclined to post aggressive or negative comments. It provides emotional relief.
6) Lack of empathy
Digital communication has created distance. Due to this, people are away from the belief that they should sympathize with others. In this case, no consideration is given to the emotional impact of the comments or posts made by others.
7) Cognitive bias
Negativity bias is the tendency for negative experiences to have a greater effect on a person’s mental state than positive experiences. People often focus on what they like on social media. And feel inspired to express it. This makes the ratio of negative comments excessive.
8) Lack of self-esteem
Some people with low self-esteem use negative comments to project their insecurities onto others. Criticizing others can temporarily boost their sense of self-worth. And, it distracts them from their weaknesses or struggles.
9) Sense of injustice
Some negative comments arise out of feelings of injustice or inequality. Especially when talking about controversial topics, there are more negative comments. Social media has become a platform for people to express their dissatisfaction or anger. When they feel injustice from society, a company, a brand, a person or other users, they come on impulse and make negative comments.
10) Irritability
Some users make negative comments to make others feel under their control. Or, some people resort to negative comments to show their strength when they are weak. By criticizing or putting others down, they feel superior or superior.
How to deal with negative comments on social media?
1) Not reacting
Not everyone comments on social media posts with good intentions. The above-mentioned psychological reasons may also be behind the comments on your post. So, if there is a negative comment, just ignore it. Responding to such comments increases your risk of getting into trouble.
2) Take a break
If you are constantly dealing with negative comments on social media, take a break. Do not post on social media or have controversial topics or opinions for a while.
3) Report or block
If you are getting unwanted negative comments on your posts, report them to such accounts. Or, if you are not interested in that person’s posts, comments or other content, you can directly block them.
4) Focus on the positive
Even if you have faced negative comments, it is not only negative comments that are all over social media. Focus on positive topics while using social media. Emphasize positive interactions as well as reading positive posts.
5) Seek help
If you are fed up with negative comments on social media, talk to your close relatives or friends about it. When you share information about a negative topic that you have shared with others, its negative impact is reduced.
What should individuals, society, government and related platforms do to reduce negative comments?
To reduce this, it is necessary to have filter options on social media platforms. Dhungana says. “We have to make a request through social media to manage the filtration part from the system,” said Dr. Dhungana adds, “The government should be serious about this. Similarly, individuals and organizations representing the society also have an equal responsibility in this regard.
He says that if small success stories of society can be brought to social media and media, it will psychologically reduce negative issues in people’s state of mind.
Similarly, it is equally necessary to ignore negative posts or comments. When arguing about a topic that is not related to you, the comments that come there will hurt the person.
