Is this what the street preachers meant by “the end is nigh”, but digitised, flattened into tweets, panic headlines, and people screaming into the void of the internet? Sometimes it feels like the whole world is turning in on itself. No one seems to like anyone anymore, and individual ego seems to have taken top billing over basic humanity.
I would like to know when did adults start dressing up like toddlers playing pretend, wrapping themselves in flags like capes, parading around like freedom fighters in a pantomime version of politics? Somewhere along the way, the line between serious issues and self-styled cosplay nationalism blurred. It’s hard to tell what’s performance and what’s real outrage anymore.
I’m not into politics, and I have no real appetite for social media. I’ve glanced at it now and then, but most of what I’ve read about its effects on society is enough to keep me away. I like a quiet life. I’m not interested in shouting about my achievements or dressing up modest reflections as branding opportunities. I don’t care for boasting, or the bizarre culture where we’re supposed to applaud it.
I might share something I’ve done if it fits the conversation, but I’ve never liked the showmanship of “look at me.” I hope people enjoy their holidays, sure, but if no one asked, why the performance? It feels like every other article starts with “So-and-so, who has X followers on Instagram…” as if that’s a credential now. As if virality equals wisdom. Spoiler: it usually doesn’t.
The bigger problem, though, is that people don’t seem to believe anything anymore. I’ve read comments under reliable, well-sourced articles from reputable outlets where readers, just regular folks, are confidently calling it all lies. The strange thing is, I happened to know that what the article said was true. But a handful of commenters shouted “fake news” and swore never to read the paper again. Probably not a huge loss to the publication, but still.
What worries me isn’t the disagreement, it’s that people would rather trust Dave on Facebook. Dave, who reposted something from an account with no name, no image, no credibility, just noise that confirms whatever anger someone’s already carrying. No source, no facts, no accountability. But because it feels true, that’s enough now?
It’s like logic is optional. Proof doesn’t seem to matter. People still believe the Earth is flat, and somehow we’re supposed to take that seriously in a debate. What a strange, conspiracy-fuelled world we’ve backed ourselves into.
Sometimes I think the simplest solution would be to just turn it all off. Ban social media for a while. The country would wobble, but it wouldn’t collapse. And maybe, just maybe, some common sense would return. Some stillness. A bit of quiet between the shouting.
But of course, the noise keeps going. Politicians behave worse than ever, crossing lines with seemingly no shame left to lose. It’s like they’ve accepted the end and decided to go out in style or scandal. There are still wars. There might be more. And the terrifying idea lingers that someone, somewhere, could end the world with the press of a button just because they feel like it.
I try not to let it get to me. I can’t control it. All I can do is hope we make it through to the other side. Maybe the end does feel closer now, but maybe that’s just because we’re constantly plugged in. Every crisis, every outrage, every panic is pushed straight into our palms, in real time. But I have to believe it felt worse during the world wars than it does now. The difference is we didn’t have 24-hour feeds drip-feeding dread.
There’s only one defence, really: don’t lose all hope. Log out once in a while. And remember, the news can’t stir us up if we’re not there to listen.
Photo by Crawford Jolly on Unsplash