A dark side to social media is how hostile and divisive it can be in even the most harmless-seeming posts. Under the cover of online anonymity, people can get belligerent, arguing with strangers and spewing venom.
And to what end? You can’t really win an argument. “Winning” over someone else, only proves to make them feel inferior. And then they just resent you. So, you’ve won a contentious interaction that already felt nauseating, despite whatever thrill you think you were getting, and after all that, all you have done is cause the other person to resent you.
They didn’t suddenly wake up to see your perspective, they just gave in. There’s an old adage that says, A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still. So really, there’s no point to all of this contention.
The world, and certainly social media, doesn’t need any more of this darkness. It’s not solving anything. What the world needs is more empathy, compassion, and understanding. We need to bring more light into this dark world.
Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently said, Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
We need more light. We need more love.