Why Are People Mean on the Internet?

the Internet. So even if that statement happened to be true, isn't saying it to a fellow human person a little uncalled for? Whether it's a social media app, a chat stream, a comment section, or a message forum, the Internet seems to be a magnet for nasty comments, partially because few result in real world consequences. But why are people so mean on the Internet. The route, it seems, may lie

deep within the human psyche. The majority of our communication is nonverbal, composed of body language, eye contact, speech tone, and language patterns. Without this information to help us process and categorize information, our minds are left to sort through the uncertain, and, thanks to a leftover prehistoric pensiant for fight or flight. Being unsure about another person's intent often

creates a negative reaction to a perceived threat. Also, by continually presenting only our curated best selves online and reaping the emotional benefits of lots of likes or up votes or what have you, psychologists say our self esteem may bloom disproportionately and negatively impact our self control. The result, we may feel entitled to be mean. Experts also posit that people may actually forget that they're speaking out loud when they post a snarky comment. Writing something from a

smartphone almost seems like you're talking to yourself. It may be especially hard for people to remember that there are real humans behind popular or professional accounts. This entitlement or lack of inhibition may also be connected to the physical distance from the people to whom those comments are directed. Research has shown that the closer the physical proximity you have to someone, the less likely you are to be

mean spirited. For example, one study found that game show contestants we're less likely to vote off a contestant standing next to them than one standing further away. And this meanness affects more than just our online lives. Being unpleasant in a virtual world can spill over into real life, resulting in an increase in aggressive communication with coworkers, family members, and friends, causing damage to relationships that must later be repaired.

While being unkind online can temporarily boost self esteem, it's a short lived high. A lasting self esteem is correlated with things like setting and achieving goals and forming meaningful connections within a group. Still, the internet seems to attract comments that people wouldn't dare express publicly in three dimensions, especially when it comes to hot topics such as gender expression or gun rights. But what can you do if

you become a target. Many online publications now require commenters to register and provide a valid email address in order to put the brakes on trolls, that is, posters who intentionally comment producatively to get a rise out of others,

But whether it actually makes a difference is debatable. Back in two thousand and seven, South Korea mandated that all websites with more than one hundred thousand users had to require them to enter their real names as well as input personal information at registration, in an effort to reduce abuse of comments. This law wound up being scrapped because negative comments only declined by zero point nine percent in the following year, and adding identifying info left people more

vulnerable to hacking. On a more personal level, one of the most effective strategies for diffusing heated situations is to give yourself a time out. Take a few minutes or hours to cool off before you reply, and when you do, stay calm. Just ask the person to stop, or go straight to blocking them and or reporting their behavior to the powers that be in that corner of the internet. Don't respond to negative comments with negativity of your own. If you find it difficult to resist a retort, There's

sometimes the option of disabling comments altogether. If threats seem likely to escalate and spill over into real life, make a police report. Even in jurisdictions that don't have specific laws against online harassment, wider anti harassment laws may apply a document the scope and depth of the behavior. Of course, pursuing any kind of legal action is most effective if you haven't thrown any gasoline on the fire. It can be infuriating when someone treats you rudely, but you always

have the option to leave it alone. Is it worth the mental energy to even dignify it with a response. As with all interactions with difficult people, it helps to remember the source. People who are lashing out usually have troubles of their own and are simply looking to exert control or discomfort, all in an effort to make themselves feel a bit better. What I tried to take from my time on YouTube is that those people who commented

about my arms or whatever don't know me. They saw a version of past me who went into a studio and made a video one time, and whatever they think of her, it has nothing to do with me, with my full being, and probably a lot to do with their own state of mind. Of course, mental health is really complicated and something that a lot of people struggle with, especially in stressful or uncertain times, and our brains are somewhat wired toward negativity, both to give it and to

remember it. Prehistorically speaking, it was more important to remember to avoid the threatening tiger than to remember to approach a friendly dog. If you catch yourself frequently lashing out online or otherwise getting stuck in negative thought loops, consider talking to a healthcare professional about it. The world can be really rough, but spreading negativity externally or internally isn't going to make it better. Navigating mental health is an

individual venture. Depending on the situation, Experts recommend everything from exercise to talk therapy, to medication to just trying to remember to approach the friendly dog. By recognizing nice things that happen, finishing a project or chore, seeing a cool bug or rock, or having a good interaction with a friend or stranger, you can sometimes overshadow negativity and sometimes train your brain to seek out more positive rewards. Today's episode is based on the art Is There a Psychological

Reason for People Being Mean? On the Internet? On how stuffworks dot Com, written by Julia Layton. Brain Stuff is a production of by Heart Radio in partnership with how Stuffworks dot Com and is produced by Tyler Klang. But four more podcasts from my heart Radio. Visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.