Changes are happening more and more rapidly with modern inventions coming like never seen before. But is this having an impact on us? And in a negative way? Are we getting nastier? 

Social media is becoming more popular as the days pass, from 49% of people using social media in 2020 to 58.4% in 2022. Unfortunately, it enables everyone to have a voice, while sometimes a wonderful thing, it also brings the twisted monster out inside of some. People are able to post horrible things they would never ever say face to face, now harder to avoid with every flashing screen seeming to surround you. Mental health conditions have had a devastating 13% increase, many arguably from the damaging images of social media. People can say anything hidden behind their computer screen that otherwise they would have kept to themselves. Moreover, the surge in popularity has led to a lot more younger people having these apps; they are now aware of the negative issues when they should have been blissfully ignorant at the low ages of only 7 years old.  

You could also argue it's being encouraged in the current times. Fake news and opinions are set across and accessed anywhere, people views are being influenced and not in good ways. For example, in 2019, the UK left the EU. The fundamental argument that was manipulated into the residents, was of prevention of immigrants. We shut our borders on innocent people fleeing their homes and their lives, fearful of the future and yet we shut them out, purely for selfish reasons. This example demonstrates how we’ve stopped being kinder and helping people who deserve it, although sometimes we can’t be blamed. Persuasions spread around, turning people to their sides, hidden beneath a blanket of lies. The Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, was so shocked at this outcome, he resigned.  

In many cases of grieving, sadness can be turned to anger, and the same concept lies within the nastiness of the public. We are constantly bombarded with bad news: wars, diseases, death. There are more things to be sad about these days what with the pressing issue of the environment. It can be a lot for people to take on, they’ll get snappier, worries run through their mind, taking control, easier irritated. These factors lead to a spike in extreme emotions, as it's known, people take out their emotions out on others. 

What's more, the 3 year-long pandemic we are slowly ascending out of has had considerable negative effects on people. More time on social media. High anxiety and levels of stress lead to being irritable easily. Even the pressing matter of millions of dead is enough to make you want to just scream at the world. Therefore, not only have people’s social skills steadily decreased, but it also means more people have shorter tempers – showcasing the extreme emotions people will demonstrate to others. It's also extremely detrimental to be so angry and nasty all the time. Your mental health will suffer, the stress and worry cloud over the happy memories, covered by the angry devil on your shoulder. 

However, there are ways to pull yourself out from the deep dark depth of despair, the pandemic is slowly spluttering to the end, friends and family will welcome you will open arms. And there are plenty of ways to relieve stress starting with simple things like meditating. After all, as Bill Clinton said, 99.9 percent of our DNA is the same so we should we treat others differently?