“Hey Trish, in your opinion, are there things that have been normalized online that shouldn’t be?”
Hi there, and welcome back to another week of Ask Trish! I hope you’re well and having a wonderful start to June. (Yes, it’s already June–where did the time go?!)
This week, we’re exploring an important question… a question I’ve been thinking a lot about recently. Indeed, unfortunately, we live in a digital world where many unacceptable, terrifying digital behaviors have been normalized. In this post, I take that issue head on, distinguishing between common digital behaviors that should be normalized and accepted, and digital behaviors that, though common, should never be seen as “normal.” I’ve kept this post punchy and brief, to allow you time to reflect on my perspective and consider: do you agree with my takes? Do you disagree? What other digital activities and behaviors do you believe we should normalize… and what should we label as “unacceptable”?
Let’s get into it:
YES, LET’S NORMALIZE THIS ONLINE ✅
| What should we normalize? | Why? |
| Civil debates and disagreements about important topics, with a diversity of viewpoints welcomed | One of the most powerful things the internet does is create space for vigorous worldwide conversation and debate about the pressing issues of the day. Oftentimes, folks will disagree about what the “right” answer to a given problem is–but we ought to welcome a diversity of viewpoints. The key to keeping things from going off the rails is civility. So long as people disagree respectfully online–not “canceling” others or doxxing them–the internet can facilitate valuable dialogue and learning. |
| Movement building online | #MeToo. #BlackLivesMatter. #ArabSpring. And so many others… the internet has also become an important site for movement building. Activists have leveraged social media platforms to speak their truth, share rallying cries, and even coordinate in-person resistance (see, for instance, the Arab Spring and the 2019 Hong Kong protests). |
| Authentic, real content | It’s giving #authentic 💗 We should definitely continue to encourage authentic, real content on social media–from filterless selfies, to posts about the struggles, difficulties, and challenges of life, to hilarious videos of pets! |
NO, LET’S NOT NORMALIZE THIS ONLINE 🛑
| What should we NOT normalize? | Why? |
| Racist, homophobic, and misogynistic digital content | This kind of horrifying content has become all too common online. Just take Andrew Tate, a British-American social media influencer who has argued that “women belong in the home, can’t drive, and are a man’s property.” He has also talked on social media about hitting and choking women and bringing back the Nazi salute. Importantly, he’s not a fringe figure online; in 2022, his TikTok videos were viewed 11.6 billion times. This kind of content should never be normalized; to accept this content would be to accept violent, hateful ideologies that have no place in our society. Indeed, it’s absolutely crucial that social media companies do more to ensure that such content is consistently and rapidly removed from their platforms. |
| Receiving or distributing explicit, sexualized content without permission | In 2022, a study by Pew Research Center found that a whopping 17%–that’s nearly one-fifth–of American teens aged 13-17 have received explicit images online that they didn’t ask for. The study also found that 7% of teens have had explicit images of them shared without their consent. That these issues are as prevalent as they are does not make them okay. The receiving or sharing of intimate imagery without permission can cause psychological harm and/or serious reputational damage. |
| Responding to every notification immediately | Recently, I found myself chatting with some fellow Gen Z-ers… and all of us had the same complaint about today’s digital world: an incessant pressure to respond to texts, emails, and social media follow requests immediately. That pressure keeps us hooked to our phones–even when we want a digital break. My advice: fight the pressure. Opt out of notifications; take a hiatus from social media; or tell your friends to expect a delay in replies. Creating healthy boundaries with your phone and the digital world is crucial to your digital wellbeing. |
I hope you found this post interesting and thought-provoking. I’ll leave you with this: one of the best ways you can avoid normalizing harmful, unacceptable digital behavior is by being an Upstander to this kind of content. If, for instance, you see harassing, misogynistic content, don’t just scroll past it–create your own post celebrating women and the important role we play in society. Take a stand–because your voice matters.
And after you do that…please go ahead and share any internet-related questions and musings with me here. I’m excited to keep the conversation going in June–thank you in advance for your contributions.
Have a wonderful week ahead,
Trish