Has society become meaner, or does social media just make it easier for us to see it?
Oprah Winfrey tackled that question during a recent episode of The Oprah Podcast featuring Dr. Jay Van Bavel, a professor of psychology and neural science at New York University and co-author of The Power of Us. The conversation focused on why rude, aggressive and uncivil behavior can feel so common today.
Van Bavel’s work examines how social identity, group behavior, polarization, misinformation and social media influence the way people think and behave. During the conversation with Oprah, the discussion explored how our environments and the groups around us can shape whether we act with kindness or hostility.
Social media can add another layer. Online platforms allow people to react instantly, and outrage can spread quickly when users see others rewarding aggressive behavior with attention.
The conversation raises a question many of us have probably asked after reading a comment section: Why are people sometimes willing to say things online that they would never say to someone face-to-face?