The problem with society is that nobody can put their money where their mouth is. We live in a generation and era where confidence is curated, and people are only assured and confident when there’s a screen between them and the world. Insults, slurs, and rage are delivered through a safety net that’s created online and through the internet.
Digital boldness has become a personality trait many people have adopted. The truth is, being bold behind a screen can only go so far; it’s not a matter of being bold, it’s a matter of being buffered.
The screen plays as protection, an invisible barrier, and convenience, not courage. On social media, everyone is suddenly “courageous” and “headstrong.” People will argue for hours in comment sections or even direct messages (DM) on instagram but one common theme is that they shy away in person.
Cyberbullying thrives because distance and a screen make things more convenient and unconfrontational than in person. Distance makes cruelty easier. Behind a phone, you don’t see a person’s facial expression or a person’s voice, trembling tone, and expression, all of which matter a lot when communicating with someone. It’s human psychology that we react to physical actions.
A screen acts like armor, moving consequences in the moment without any immediate remorse or consequences until you communicate fully. It’s easy to be “confident” when in real life you’re muted.
Someone who is shy and always keeps their head down may not always be so shy and soft spoken. You’ll see the other side, a split personality, maybe confident, witty, or even aggressive. A screen allows people time to come up with their own split personality that differentiates from their own. Real boldness and confidence are maintaining the same energy online that you express in person.
Cyberbullying isn’t a side effect of the internet; it’s a personality side effect, one that is adopted with the need to feel powerful. When people get a taste of power, they seek more; they feel untouchable, and empathy disappears. That’s not digital boldness, it’s digital cowardness.
Sophomore Asani King said, “It should be stopped because cyberbullying is really bad because it can ruin your reputation.”
Group chats or comment sections can be an ego chamber where you shame one person to feel better about yourself. Some people say, “Well, it’s just the internet,” but the internet isn’t a separate world; it affects people in real time and can have lasting effects. If you believe something stands for it in person and online, don’t hop on the bandwagon.
There’s nothing wrong with being quiet or shy; a screen doesn’t have to act like a safety net. Being as direct in person as you are online is confidence and accountability for who you truly are. At the end of the day, confidence and character aren’t built on digital cowardness; it’s built on how you feel is morally correct, rather than justifying your actions.
Communication is healthier and better when communicating in person rather than on social media or on a screen, where emotions are heated, misconstrued, and tone is interpreted.
Senior Marion Allaume said, “People are more confident and can easily express themselves when they’re anonymous.”Boldness requires integrity, accountability, and morality. Being present is the first step to change, and in a society where social media is a “middle man,” change is the first thing future generations will need to thrive. If you’re going to stand for something, you can’t shy away just because friends’ beliefs are different.
It’s America, we are entitled to our own rights, opinions, and voices. If someone else doesn’t like your opinion, you don’t have to change yours. We are all our own people; we shouldn’t change for others. Changing will make you lose sight of who you truly are.