The miseducation of social media

Social media is a tool for connection and communication, but also manipulation and exploitation.

Written by Shane Fowler

In this day, social media is considered one of the most powerful pieces of technology. 

Regardless of your age, sex, race or background, you most likely have social media on your devices. It was seen as a utopia, but is actually a dystopia. One thing I keep seeing again and again is people taking advantage of others online. Specifically, what I'm referring to is someone who continuously does something, thinking people are laughing with them, but what they don’t realize is that it’s them being laughed at. An internet term for this person is a “lolcow” or someone who is constantly being “milked” for laughs. 

The first person that comes to mind when thinking of this term is TikTok influencer Joshua Block, who is known mainly by his username @worldoftshirts. Block went from an innocent man trying to start a business to a struggling alcoholic, all while his viewers found their amusement in his pain. 

Block was just a normal kid whose life took a turn for the worse. Growing up, he faced many hardships, but would find solace later through posting on social media. Posting silly videos and promoting his T-shirt business that helped put a smile on his face. Most felt empathy for him, while others used him and his struggles for their entertainment. 

Later in Block’s social media career, he would develop a drinking problem during one of his many trips to New York City, all with the encouragement of his fans. This would eventually lead to him being arrested for causing a disturbance in February. But that’s what his fans wanted so it's cool, you know?

Block’s just one of many sad stories of a poor soul taken advantage of by the online public. It’s sickening to see people being taken advantage of – just for a moment of laughter. Was it worth it all, to just forget about it a few swipes later? 

Social media has such a grip on the public and most of us don’t even realize it. 

All that person wanted to do was express themselves and their work, however, all they got was a comment section filled with people taking advantage of their misfortunes. I’ve always noticed how people love it when someone starts to spiral online – that’s when people start to pay attention. Their fans take advantage of the situation for personal gain, finding it entertaining instead of feeling sympathy. Just imagine, if Block was just another guy out in the world with no social media and he was causing a scene like he does online. Not so funny now, right?

Maybe I am reaching by saying all of this, but thankfully there are people out there who see this like I do. Block likely received just as many comments showing sympathy and concern for his well-being as he did encouraging him to spiral. Even though there is negativity on social media, just like with everything else, there is also a beacon of hope that shines through.