When Hate Goes Viral: How Social Media Is Dividing America

Social media has become a breeding ground for violence and anger in our country. Since its inception, it has grown into a chaotic landscape, spreading lies and fueling heated disagreements. Keyboard warriors are given the freedom to express their opinions and disseminate their agendas without any regard for truth. This has contributed to the extreme political polarization we are witnessing in America. The hatred and animosity between people have not been this intense since the 1960s.

Misinformation is spread by various individuals, including college professors, lawyers, legal analysts, media personalities from both sides of the aisle, and politicians. These individuals, who are often perceived as truth-tellers, inadvertently fuel mass anger by allowing people to believe what they read as factual. The web’s “enshittification” further exacerbates this problem, as search engines present articles that reinforce preexisting beliefs, even if they are false narratives.

I have vowed to remain neutral in my posts, so I won’t explicitly state whether recent events in America are true or false. However, I can observe that many people blindly follow the narratives presented by Conservatives and Liberals as gospel. Simple research reveals that both sides are manipulating the truth to align with their desired beliefs.

I have consistently emphasized the importance of relying on live video as a reliable source of information. While artificial intelligence may not be able to manipulate live video in real time, this technology is advancing rapidly. Media outlets often reproduce and edit video posts to support their arguments, creating the “spin” they want their audience to believe. Journalists and educators play a crucial role in shaping public opinion, and their actions have a significant impact on the state of America.

I identify as neither far right nor far left. While I have certain beliefs, I avoid watching the lies perpetuated by the news media and social media. Getting caught up in this cycle contributes to the angry and polarized atmosphere we see in America today.

Our forefathers lacked the foresight to create a constitution that encompasses the technology we possess today. Freedom of speech, one of America’s pillars, embodies freedom for Americans, but its abuse can engender fear and hatred. The problem is that our freedom of speech allows individuals to lie and alter facts to suit their interests. Our forefathers assumed we possessed the intelligence to discern this, but it is clear that we do not.

Divisiveness originates from the leaders of our country, spanning the halls of the Senate, House, Courts, and State Government Leaders. Elected leaders resort to name-calling and breaking the law to achieve their goals. This is not American.

Freedom of Speech in the Age of Noise

I believe I am among the intelligent ones. I abstain from social media. When it first emerged, I recognized its dangers. Initially, it was a platform for sharing hobbies, families, and love with the public. However, it was corrupted by politicians and the media, becoming a means for them to disseminate vile messages to sway elections, manipulate the truth, and even influence people away from their spiritual beliefs. It has been used for nefarious purposes.  I believe that social media and News Media is the single most dangerous thing facing America today.

People will never be able to return to their roots and find safety. The Bible teaches us how to be good people, regardless of religious beliefs. You don’t need to believe in God to understand how to treat others, but the principles in the Bible are timeless. Jesus emphasized the importance of unconditional and selfless love, stating, “Love each other just as I have loved you.” He also taught that loving your neighbor is one of the greatest commandments, closely linked to loving God.  Clearly we have lost this simple teaching in our country.

Much of what is shared on social media and news media doesn’t align with simple common sense. Love and respect others. There is evil in the world everywhere. It has been a sickness in society since the beginning of time. Just read about the history of the world, and you will see that our world has always been filled with evil and hate. The difference between now and then is that our hate today is instantaneous.

In my blog, I share my thoughts on what I see in this world. There is no hate here for anyone. I disagree with others, but that doesn’t lead me to violence. It does make me sad, though. What I see on video today where there is total disrespect for one another gives me a heavy heart. The wars, murders, stealing, and hate disgust me. We are better than that.

I always wonder if I will be the last generation in America to live in a free society. I see the crumbling of society around me. We have always had problems in our world, but with the ability to instantly write something hateful and stir up violence between each other, I wonder how long we will be able to work together as a country before the hate tears us completely apart.