Why the Constant Rudeness on Social Media?
Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Social media has become a platform for releasing emotions rather than sharing knowledge, with many individuals exhibiting harsh behavior online that they wouldn't display in person.
- This digital toxicity is normalizing, affecting children and teenagers and leading to a society that is increasingly hard-hearted and less sensitive to etiquette.
- True strength lies in emotional control and maintaining good conduct, even when attacked online, rather than resorting to insults or harsh words.
In today's digital age, a stark contrast exists between people's real-world politeness and their online aggression. Many who are courteous face-to-face transform into harsh, insulting individuals behind the anonymity of a screen. This online persona, often fueled by a tendency to react quickly and think slowly, turns social media into an outlet for pent-up emotions instead of a space for knowledge and wisdom.
This digital toxicity is becoming normalized, with children exposed daily to harsh comments and teenagers growing up amidst online abuse. Adults, too, engage in keyboard warrior behavior for attention. Consequently, society is becoming more hardened, quick to anger, and less sensitive to proper etiquette. The article emphasizes that in Islam, etiquette is valued above eloquent speech, yet many prioritize appearing intelligent while neglecting kindness.
True strength, as highlighted by a Hadith from Bukhari and Muslim, lies in self-control during anger, not in winning physical contests. In the modern world, this translates to maintaining good conduct and calmness when attacked online, rather than engaging in insults. Every word written online has an impact, potentially causing deep hurt to those already struggling with life's pressures.
The article calls for a culture of compassion in digital communication. It advises remaining silent if unable to speak kindly, expressing disagreements maturely, and calming down before writing when angry. It concludes that the world's ruin stems not from differing opinions but from the loss of good manners during disagreements. Choosing gentle speech is presented as a path to a better world.
Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.