What is the purpose of social media? To make connections, to inform, to pass the time, to connect with friends or compete with friends, to discuss shared problems, to ask for help, to argue with strangers or to deceive and misinform? All of these!
A disturbing trend is "social media masturbation". This must be called out when we see it, and eventually eradicated.
Comments on social media posts that contribute nothing, and/or demean the post author are "social media masturbation".
Why masturbation? Masturbation is a behavior that makes you feel good, but does not do any good for anyone else.
Masturbation in real life is done privately.
Social media masturbation is public.
Why do individuals "masturbate" on social media?
(1). Sometimes the masturbator does not think about what he is doing and why he is doing it, failing to consider that his name or "handle" is associated with the post.
(2). Sometimes the masturbator thinks he is impressing the rest of the community by putting down the post author. But the masturbator is really just wasting everyone's time.
If you genuinely do not agree with the content of the post, you can point out the area(s) of disagreement and provide proof or evidence for your position. This takes mental energy and effort, whereas masturbation does not. If you are not willing to do that, then move on.
(3). Sometimes the masturbator just wants to feel good. We all understand that, but masturbation is a private act. And the masturbator should ask himself why putting someone else down makes him feel good?
The next time you are reading social media and spot this behavior, please call out the masturbator and refer him to this article.
Image courtesy of Rosy.Ziegler@web.de
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