Power of words

Throughout history, society has used language as a means of communicating our ideas and motivations. As languages grew and developed, cultures grew with and around them, and they became produced vibrant and exotic. Now, there are thousands of languages, and with them thousands of different cultures. Furthermore, modern advances in communication allow people to communicate across the globe and learn about the unique cultures of others. However, these advances also have had a very negative effect on society. On the internet, harsh and hateful language thrives because of a lack of responsibility and the fear of being singled out. 
Social media is something that many use every day. It provides us with a fast, instant connection that can be accessed almost anywhere, at any time. Unlike face-to-face conversation, social media allows one to share their ideas and opinions without seeing how their words affect others. As such, people tend to speak without thinking, and they don’t feel a need to worry about how their words will impact others. Phrases including “kill yourself” and “nobody cares about you” are tossed around without a second thought. These words are just as potent on a screen as they are from a mouth. However, they don’t have any effect on the sender, just the receiver. This lack of responsibility keeps hate alive on the internet. 
While people on the internet are able to say things without affecting each other, they still are wary of what others will say about them. Users tend to attack in large numbers, knowing that they will be safe in packs. This is best exemplified in what is known as “cancel culture” on Twitter. Here, a person will do something that is looked down upon by society, such as photoshop their images or be culturally insensitive. Users will then take to Twitter to call them out on their actions, and then they will “cancel” them. This is similar to a boycott, but instead of a company or an idea, it is a person. Here, people are able to put endless hate on another person and not feel ashamed since everyone else seems to be doing it. This mob mentality makes hate and harsh words seem socially acceptable, even though they are still very powerful. 
Also one can see that on the internet, harsh and hateful language thrives because of a lack of responsibility and the fear of being singled out. 

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