Column: High Schoolers Are Drowning in TikTok and Instagram Toxicity

By Staff Writer Saesha Prabhakar

It’s late at night, and I’m trying to squeeze in my last bit of TikTok before bed. One video after another flashes through my screen. Someone showing off their outfit, a Wingstop mukbang, a “day in the life.” As my daily ritual is almost over, I come across a comment under a clip of an interview with a Love Island star that reads, “she is so unlikable.” Curious, I continue scrolling and see more vile comments on the same video: “ick,” “she’s doing too much.” I rewatch the clip: it seems like an innocuous interview; the star simply answers the questions she’s asked. After this encounter, I keep scrolling through TikTok and checking the comments under each video. Under a “day in the life” video from a marketing employee, someone writes, “get a real job.” Under a clip of someone lip-syncing to an audio, another person comments “what are u doing genuinely.” The comments keep going — terse, blunt, and harsh. 

As this negativity slowly consumes me, I realize that even though social media is a part of my daily life, I’ve only gradually come to notice how ubiquitous and normalized hate has become on these platforms. At this point, it almost feels like a routine. Someone posts a harmless video and the comment sections fill with hate. People pick apart the way others talk, look, or dress, or even just their general vibe. Instead of reacting to the content or simply scrolling, people find one reason or another to pick someone apart. And because it happens so often, everyone just accepts it. The hate isn’t shocking anymore. It’s normal. It’s just a part of being on social media.

People often defend hate as just voicing an opinion, but there is a clear difference between respectful disagreement and attacking someone with an intent to embarrass them. The Internet blurs that red line, making it easy to forget that there is a real person behind the screen. 

I use social media the way most people do: whenever I am bored, need a break, or have a few minutes to spare, I open my phone and scroll through Instagram or TikTok. It’s a way for me to relax and take a break from all my responsibilities. But over time, I’ve started to feel different. I often felt worse after spending time scrolling through social media. Seeing all the insults and mockery online fill me with negativity that lingers in my mind throughout the day. 

Eventually, all that trapped negativity slowly grew into an overbearing insecurity. When you constantly see people criticizing other’s looks, personalities, or choices, it’s hard not to start wondering what people might say about you. More than that, I noticed that my own thoughts were becoming more negative. I found myself becoming more judgmental towards myself and others. I would think twice before making a joke, debating whether it would be considered “cringey” or unfunny. When interactions on social media began affecting my day-to-day life, I realized how easily negativity spread. When you’re surrounded by it long enough, it starts to shape the way you think with you even noticing. 

After weeks of being in a state of constant self-doubt and pessimism, I finally decided that the small dopamine hits I get from scrolling are not worth ruining my mental health. I slowly began taking social media out of my daily routine. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through feeds before sleeping, I picked up a book and journaled my thoughts. Every time my hand instinctively went for my phone, I had to pause and remind myself to put it down. It was a small act that felt surprisingly difficult, testing my patience and self-discipline. 

At first, the absence of constant stimulation felt strange, almost like a quiet emptiness. However, instead of feeling isolated and detached, I felt a gentle sense of calm settling over me. I finally felt as if I had space to breathe, free from worrying about what someone online might think of me. Over time, I felt a renewed sense of confidence and positivity. My thoughts felt clearer, my energy more steady, and a sense of well-being I hadn’t realized was missing slowly anchored itself back into my daily life. 

My own experience in dealing with the toxic environment created on social media helped me realize that the way we interact online actually matters. Every comment, every reaction, and every little message contributes to the thoughts and feelings of others. At its core, the Internet is meant to connect us, not breed cruelty. No one should accept hostility and negativity as the norm in spaces where people come together to communicate and share their lives.

In the midst of all this toxicity and negativity, it’s worth remembering a lesson we were taught as young kids: when we have the choice between spreading hate and spreading kindness, choosing kindness is always the better option. The small decisions we make online can shape someone else’s day and contribute to the culture of kindness or cruelty across social media. Choosing kindness isn’t just better for others; it’s better for ourselves too.