Parenting
This Video Will Make You Rethink Leaving Rude Comments Online
By Alex Thompson | Oct. 16, 2023
Why do we feel free to say things online that we would never utter in person? Imagine witnessing someone fat-shaming a woman at a café or telling a same-sex couple to end their lives. What if you overheard a hateful comment directed at a Muslim woman? Would you intervene?
A poignant new public service announcement (PSA) released for Bullying Prevention Month raises these critical questions. It highlights the glaring contrast between the behavior we tolerate online and what we would confront in real-life situations.
Titled “In Real Life: An Offline Experiment,” the video employs actors to portray both bullies and their victims. The bullies recite actual comments taken from social media, such as “I absolutely detest fat people,” “Homosexuality is a mental illness,” and “All Muslims are terrorists.” In these staged scenarios, bystanders step up to defend those being harassed. However, online, the response is often markedly different.
This powerful PSA was produced by Sarah Carter in collaboration with the advertising agency BBDO New York. Its purpose is to encourage viewers to reflect on why our online behaviors differ so drastically from our in-person interactions.
Carter shared with People magazine that the video serves as a vivid reminder of how people hide behind screens to express sentiments they would never voice face-to-face. “It’s a shocking reflection that compels us to reconsider our online behavior compared to how we act in person,” she explained.
Additionally, she aims to illustrate how bullying can be mitigated when individuals choose to advocate for one another. “The people featured in the video who reacted to the comments were not actors,” Carter noted. “Their responses were genuine and unplanned. It was uplifting to see real New Yorkers defend people facing harassment. Most intervened without resorting to bullying the bullies but instead chose to support the victims.”
One of the video’s strengths lies in its relatability. In today’s digital age, who hasn’t faced nasty remarks online? I recall my own experience in college when I published my first article in a local newspaper. The initial excitement quickly turned to disappointment when a comment read, “Awful article. You can do better.”
Despite knowing the age-old advice to avoid the comments section, I found myself drawn to the negativity. The comments ranged from the absurd to the hurtful—one person suggested I find a job kicking kittens, while another questioned why anyone would pay me for my work. In person, I received compliments on my writing, but online? The vitriol was unlike anything I had encountered face-to-face.
When a keyboard and a screen come into play, empathy seems to vanish. We express thoughts online that would be utterly unacceptable in real life. Why is that? Videos like “In Real Life” challenge us to reconsider our online conduct and encourage a more compassionate digital environment.
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In summary, the video serves as a stark reminder of the disconnection between our online personas and our real-life selves. It encourages us to confront our own online behaviors and advocate for respect and kindness in digital spaces.