Thanks to Tik Tok, another damaging trend has gained popularity in the last few months. The first time I saw this trend, I laughed at the sight of a girlfriend doing a dance that ended in hitting her innocent and unexpecting boyfriend in the groin. (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZP88S6yA3/) I cackled at the face the boy made when he was ultimately betrayed by someone he loved and trusted – now suffering in pain. It wasn’t until I watched more and more creators participate in this same trend that I realized how depraved it really was. While many Tik Tok users may dismiss it as just a silly little prank, I realized that this trend was more–a use of violence to gain attention.
This trend, along with many others promoted on social media, reflects a long-standing cultural practice of finding humor in others misfortunes. Growing up, I frequently watched shows like “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” where laughter often came at the expense of someone’s pain. The media has slowly conditioned me to laugh at the sight of an elderly man slipping on ice and injuring himself just trying to take the trash out, a sight that should really bring tears to my eyes. Nowadays, the entertainment industry and social media have created an environment where making mistakes is met with ridicule or harsh criticism. This contributes to a society that is increasingly unforgiving and toxic, as seen in cancel culture. Trends involving the hurting of others for clout also reveals the societal value where getting attention is a higher priority than posting genuine content.
Platforms like TikTok play a huge role in this mindset. Their algorithms boost content that generates the most views and engagement, even if it promotes harmful behaviors. This prompts questioning the role of social media companies’ responsibility to monitor content and prevent the spread of dangerous trends. To fix this culture, we must advocate for alternative forms of humor. Influencers should focus more on creating uplifting content that encourages laughter through creativity and kindness, without causing harm to others. It is extremely easy to report videos encouraging violence and it takes only 30 seconds of your time. By promoting positive interactions, we can redefine what is considered funny and what it means to entertain.