BE AN INTERNET SUPERHERO

Anika Kasula | ’20-’21 Director of Fundraising

The internet has always been a place where people can learn and connect to a multitude of individuals. However, in recent years, it is associated a lot more with hate and negativity. People nowadays believe that one should expect hate when putting themselves out to the internet, but looking back, I can’t help but question why. A lot of people are cyber bullied for their appearance or even the smallest mistakes they have made. In most situations, this hate is never properly justified, and negativity thus fuels the internet. Many people have a misguided mindset toward hate in general. For centuries, humans have gone through civil wars and have experienced many internal conflicts (mostly caused by jealousy), so it may seem as if hate comes with being a functioning member of society. The only problem is that back then, there was no internet to connect millions of people with each other. Therefore, it was very common for misunderstandings to get in the way of people uniting. Now, we have the internet, which has the ability to do the exact opposite. It has such amazing potential and is a beautiful tool that can truly revolutionize the way we see society. We now have the ability to understand so many other people and get an insight into how they feel about certain topics. However, we as humans are wasting this potential to be one unified world. We are not trying to understand but are rather trying to find faults in others. Oftentimes, jealousy gets in the way, but why should it? Obviously, the world is not perfect, but if each person can do their part to celebrate others, then we may have a chance of achieving the abstract idea of world peace. Maybe this idea does not have to be abstract any longer. There will indeed be those individuals who choose to hate, but if the majority reverts to spreading positivity on the worldwide platform known as the internet, we as a society can only get stronger. One of the main reasons why people choose to hate others is for the sole purpose of entertainment. Conflict is probably the only source of entertainment humans have, whether this be in movies, shows, or games. An interesting movie is one with a good plot, which means an incredible conflict. People seem to be so bent on stirring the pot because doing so often does not affect them personally. We seem to have forgotten that the internet is not a fake place. Behind the screens are people just like us, each with their own feelings and mental health. No one puts their whole life on the internet, so oftentimes, people are hating on the narrative of an individual rather than the individual themself. The two are often mistaken for each other, so the toxicity and negative comments can truly mess with their mental health, and they often doubt themselves. The internet does not allow people to make mistakes, which makes it incredibly difficult for people to grow and learn. If only we take a step back and try to put ourselves in someone’s shoes will we make the internet a more positive and attractive place for everyone. Rather than treating the internet like a game, we have to start realizing that it is indeed starting to become a very real part of our lives. Thus, we shouldn’t comment hateful things toward anyone because although we may not be caught, we are contributing to the negativity and toxicity of society. Do your part to make the world a better place and don’t take advantage of your right to free speech.

You can praise and offer constructive criticism but please don’t hate to the point where it impacts someone’s mental health. Let us use the internet like it was meant to be used, and let’s take full advantage of the fact that it is literally a tool to connect the whole world together. We have a change of unity and greatness, so please do your best to be an internet superhero by spreading positivity on the internet. Here are some examples of things you can do:

Comment positive messages on others’ posts ◦ This can really make someone’s day Stand up for/to others ◦ When someone blatantly hates on another individual or group, educate and stand up to them Unfollow negative accounts ◦ Giving such accounts more attention will only increase hate on the internet Report bullying and hate Help small businesses and entrepreneurs ◦ Give them a follow ◦ Share their posts ◦ Buy their products Give advice rather than hate ◦ Critique but do not criticize Spread positive content Bring awareness on current events Take constant breaks from your screen

There is so much good in the world, so please do not let jealousy or a lack of entertainment guide you in the wrong direction. If you are in need of entertainment, play some games or watch an interesting movie, but do your best not to bring negativity to the world around you. Let’s be stronger and make life enjoyable for everyone around us. Be an internet superhero.