How Should We Use Social Media?

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives. It’s a space where opinions are formed, emotions are expressed, and even a sense of illusory happiness is created. In fact, political and social decisions in real life are often influenced by this platform. Yet, on this same platform, we see bizarre behaviors—someone shares a post about grief, and others react with a laughing emoji. Sometimes, an entire thread of comments is shaped based on just one or two initial reactions. These “digital behaviors” are not isolated incidents; they reflect deep psychological and social realities. Often, people follow or imitate comments without applying their own judgment. Digital coding is dulling our humane responses. Many of us assume that the virtual world is limitless and without consequences, where anything can be said. However, social media often limits true freedom of expression, trapping us within digital algorithms.

Let’s explore what we need to keep in mind while using social media:

1. Emotional Detachment:

When someone shares painful or traumatic experiences on Facebook or similar platforms, some users respond with laughing reactions. This reflects not only emotional insensitivity but also deliberate cruelty. The relevant psychological concept here is “Emotional Detachment in Digital Spaces”—a kind of artificial intrusion into real emotional experiences.

Since there’s no age, class, or professional restrictions on entering social media, anyone can connect with anyone. Someone you might ignore or avoid in real life may become your friend online. Even individuals like tea vendors or housemaids are freely engaging, commenting, or reacting to personal posts, which people would likely avoid doing in real life due to social norms. But online, people express themselves without hesitation or boundaries.

2. Online Cruelty & Cognitive Laziness:

In the absence of body language, eye contact, or vocal tone, emotions become hard to interpret on virtual platforms. Social media gradually numbs our empathy. It fosters a kind of “online cruelty” that teaches people to laugh at others’ pain or feel jealousy instead of joy at someone’s success—especially when it’s someone close. Sometimes, users post rude comments or withhold reaction just to appear emotionally superior.

Others react inappropriately out of habit or inattentiveness—like laughing at sad posts—not because they are mean, but due to “cognitive laziness.” They don’t take the time to understand what the post really means.

3. Dark Humor:

Dark humor is becoming increasingly common in digital culture. Many young netizens treat any emotion as something to mock or meme. They derive joy from belittling others, which gradually erodes their empathy. They troll people who express sorrow or pain, pretending to be superior or unaffected. Some people believe that happiness only exists on social media, but the truth is that those who appear the happiest online often are not happy in real life—they are trapped in a loop of artificial digital happiness.

4. Social Proof Theory:

People now read social media comments more than they read books. Thought patterns are shaped in the comment sections. And interestingly, most follow a predictable trend: the first few comments influence all that follow. If early comments are positive, the rest usually follow suit. If they’re negative, others are too.

This is explained by the “Social Proof” theory. When people see others expressing a certain opinion, they take it as truth or popular belief, especially on complex or uncertain issues. Since social media algorithms push the most liked comments to the top, it reinforces this cycle. This is similar to traditional media’s “agenda setting”—a digital form of it.

5. Digital Setting Theory:

In traditional media, agenda setting determined which news topics got more attention. On social media, this power has shifted to netizens and influencers. They influence public opinion through strategic posts and comments. If a topic is frequently discussed or the top comments are hateful or negative, people tend to agree with them—even without verification.

To gain virality, users often use vulgar language, provocative images, or clickbait phrases to attract attention. This manipulation of visibility is part of a “digital setting” to shape public perception.

6. Digital Setup Theory:

Sometimes, orchestrated comments and agenda-setting are used to spread misinformation and create environments of confusion and hate. For instance, a false or misleading comment about health, religion, politics, or a public figure—if it becomes popular—can quickly shape mass opinion. This is no longer just spreading rumors; it’s about engineering belief through digital setup.

People then start to lose track of what’s true or false. A fog of confusion sets in, controlled by manipulated digital narratives.

7. Digital Lynching:

The “Spiral of Silence” is a well-known communication theory. It suggests that when dominant views are amplified in media, dissenting voices retreat into silence. This results in the death of alternative opinions.

People then become afraid to express different views—fearing ridicule, unpopularity, or digital lynching. As a result, diversity of thought is lost, debate becomes narrower, and social platforms turn into emotionally numb spaces. Sympathy, empathy, and respect seem to be confined to just reaction buttons. In real life, people receive face-to-face compassion; online, they often face loneliness or mockery.

This causes social fragmentation, polarization, and emotional distance.

What Should Be Done?

Social media users—especially teens—must be made aware of these issues. Thinking before reacting or commenting, fact-checking, and respecting others’ emotions are essential social responsibilities.

Just because one can comment from behind a screen like a mythical figure such as Meghnad from the Ramayana, doesn’t mean we should hurt others’ emotions. Social media platforms must also avoid promoting hate or misinformation and work toward algorithmic transparency and accountability.

Conclusion:

Polite online behavior, empathy, and sensitivity are not just moral choices—they are part of building a healthy society. Users must embrace digital literacy and strive to learn how to be more responsible online.

The way we use social media today will shape our collective future. Let that future be thoughtful, humane, and just.

Prashanta Kumar Shil
Author: Media Educator and International Political Analyst