The beauty of social media is that everyone has an opinion. The negative part of social media is that everyone has an opinion.
Once upon a time, disagreements lived at the dinner table, in union halls, or on the floor of Congress. Now they’re broadcast 24/7, amplified by algorithms, and weaponized by people hiding behind avatars. The vitriol we see, with each political side tearing at the other, has been sharpened and accelerated by social media.
I fear that this constant stream of outrage isn’t just bad for civil discourse — it’s dangerous. When online debates devolve into hate-filled pile-ons, it creates an atmosphere where extreme voices feel justified, even celebrated. What starts as words on a screen can too easily cross into actions in the real world.
Social media has given us connection, access, and a platform to be heard. But it’s also exposed the ugliest parts of human nature and magnified them. My concern is that unless we collectively learn how to dial back the toxicity, things are only going to get worse.
