For the past few months, as social media continues to grow in its popularity, we find millions of posts every day. From Instagram to Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat. Videos being shared that are fitting in with the new trend each week. Make-up videos, water bottle challenge videos, videos being reposted after the fall of Vine and of course the infamous memes. But what we also find are the viral videos that we don’t realize we shouldn't be laughing at. Videos of two teens fighting in the streets or the school hallways, of teens having a mental break down over something as small as a shot, we see riots, rallies and protests, and a million more things that would take me the rest 2017 to list. And as we sit behind our screens and laugh at the “little white kid” trying to be tough, or the 15 year old girl screaming and crying over a shot, here is what we aren’t realizing.
We have all seen it before, the video of two kids fighting in a hallway or in the streets. The multiple friends standing to the side watching and laughing as they record the whole thing on their phones. The natural reaction these days seems to be “dang that boy got his a** beat” or “lmao he thought he was tough.” But why aren't we saying, “Why are those kids just standing there with their cameras?” or “Why is no one stopping them?” These videos then go viral because someone finds it funny and hits the share button, which then is posted to hundreds of others' feeds. Instead, we should be sharing that we need to stop this behavior rather than “lol that kid thought he could fight.” This action is one of the biggest reasons our society can’t find an end to forms of bullying, because by sharing these videos, we are promoting the idea to the younger generation that this behavior is ok.
The same idea goes with videos of teens panicking over shots. We all have our fears, and although sometimes it seems funny, the person we are laughing at is truly terrified. Take it from someone who suffers from a panic disorder. They don’t want to be afraid and panic, but they physically have no choices but to panic because their brains won’t allow them to stay calm. They go through this pain of not being able to stay calm and keep control over their thoughts and emotions, and for most, it is rather embarrassing. Instead of respecting their phobia and their privacy, we share their 30 seconds of horror with the world. And when the person sitting at the desk behind them at school finds the video, they feel as though it is ok to share it with everyone who knows the victim. It makes them vulnerable to bullying.
We talk every day about how we need to end behaviors such as bullying and fighting, yet we share videos that promote the action everyday. We make jokes and comments that separate us from others (but we won't get into that as that is a whole other article). We bully and humiliate each other, label and judge each other, causing the horrifying disruptions to society.
Over the years, we have seen a fair share of "challenges," from the cinnamon challenge to the water bottle challenge. At first, it was "those crazy teens" always completing the so-called challenges, but now we are starting to see kids in kindergarten and first grade pick up on them. There are other challenges that have run their course, supporting causes such as ALS, but why aren’t there more challenges that promote encouraging and life changing causes? So here is my challenge to you!
With the new year upon us, I challenge you to truly mean “new year, new me.” I challenge you to not watch or share that video and stop humiliating those around us. Stop promoting poor behaviors that disrupt our society. I challenge you to love more and care more every day for those we do and don't know. I challenge you to take away the labels and realize that without the vast majority of categories we separate ourselves into, we all share one important thing, we are all human beings. Take away the labels of white, black; Christian, Catholic or Muslim. Take away the label of liberal and conservative, democrat or republican. Overall I challenge you to make the change this year. Forget our differences and celebrate our similarities. Celebrate our lives on this Earth as they are. Celebrate those around us, their accomplishments. Celebrate each and every day. And then maybe our world can be one step closer to celebrating as one.
