17 Toxic Internet Trends That Need To Stop ASAP
We recently asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the popular internet trends that need to stop because they're actually toxic — and of course, they didn't hold back. Here are the eye-opening results:
"Any health trend started on or perpetuated by TikTok, Instagram, and the like. And a 'nutritionist' is not the same as a dietician. Dieticians are medically trained and regulated."
"Anything on CleanTok. People who were never taught to clean are being taken advantage of by people who were also never taught to clean and just mix everything because 'ooh, pretty colors' gets all the views. Someone is going to f---ing mustard gas themselves, either making one of these videos or following the video. Stop. Mixing. Chemicals."
"Cleaning 'experts' sprinkling baking soda on everything and vacuuming it up! Stop that! You're destroying the motor in your vacuum! Baking soda has superfine particles that even the best filters can't handle and cause serious wear and tear on the vacuum motor. Not to mention, you'll NEVER get it all up, only adding to the dust and debris in your air. Want to clean fabric, upholstery, and mattress? Use an appropriate liquid spray designed for that purpose and stop punishing your vacuum!"
"Filming yourself working out at the gym. People in the background don't want to be recorded. They didn't give consent, and it's violating their privacy. If you are going to film yourself, do it at home or in a private gym area with NO ONE in the background. I would be so embarrassed if I saw someone filming themselves, and I'm in the background."
"Skincare and tanning. Forcing young girls to be overly self-conscious about their very normal functions, such as pimples and aging, just makes me sick. And tanning just leads to sunburn 9 times out of 10."
"Prank channels! Not even touching on the family ones that can cause trauma to the children's social lives and mental health, but some people don't realize they are staged, thinking they can replicate them. Whether it's public pranks on strangers or at home, the person being pranked can respond unpredictably, harming themselves or others. Just not worth it."
"These huge hauls! I would see boxes on boxes, and they aren't from PRs! I remember watching one influencer buy 30 bikinis for a 'summer haul,' and not only that, I would see huge bags of stuff, and the caption might say 'mini haul.' This pressures people to spend a whole lot of money to live off this 'lifestyle.'"
"Definitely the shopping hauls AND everything being an ad — whether or not it's even announced. I often watch what my 9-year-old daughter wants to on YouTube, and we have in-depth discussions about how this video or that one is an ad. We also talk about consumerism and how, unfortunately, for her YouTube-loving self, she has a momma who isn't into all that!"
"Rage-bait videos for clicks — especially ones that involve 'cooking.' I hate when people make videos with the intent of pissing people off just to increase engagement on their posts. It's extra infuriating when they waste a ton of food in the interest of getting people to comment on their 'techniques.' Such a waste."
"Filming strangers without their consent. I see TikTok videos of people filming strangers and romanticising it. People are just going about their day, waiting at the bus stop, sitting in the park, having coffee with a friend, or even CHILDREN — but some weirdo is filming them from a distance. I would hate if I opened TikTok and saw a video of me just walking down the street. I'd be like???? It's not aesthetic and cute; it's creepy and giving stalker."
"Stupid TikTok 'challenges' that disrupt schools. Half of them are flat-out encouraging crime. Destroy the bathroom? That's destruction of property. Punch a teacher? Assault. Chromebook? Destruction of property, possibly arson, and willful endangerment. I'm trying to teach, not be the potty police, a punching bag, or a firefighter."
"Family vlogging channels. You're putting kids under the pressure of the internet when they're too young to choose otherwise. It turns the parent-child dynamic into a transactional one, where the inner lives of these children are exposed for clout, and parents are rewarded for using their kids. I can't imagine how those kids would feel once grown, but it can't be good."
"Filming yourself ALL THE TIME! I'm tired of all the 'vlogs' on social media. I don't need to watch someone's day in a life or 'get ready with me.' What is the purpose of filming yourself all day and posting everything on social media? No one is that interested. Bye!"
"Developing disturbingly strong parasocial relationships that are filling the space in your heart where actual, personal relationships used to go. We're connecting to the wrong people."
"Filming yourself crying. Why do you want to have evidence of yourself ugly-crying? Then posting the videos feels like fishing for attention, and it's obnoxious."
"AI meme videos. They keep causing more brain rot and even shorter attention spans. Technology has fried our brains, and we all need a cleanse from this type of content online. It's caused us to be less social as a whole. Sure, there's convenience, but what else is this doing to benefit humanity? I don't think a low-quality image of a shark with Nike shoes saying random Italian words is doing much for society now, is it?"
And finally...
"Couple vlogging. Especially if you're relying on profiting off it; if things go south, you either stay with a toxic partner or risk losing your income. Also, the oversharing is uncomfortable to me, and the whole thing feels performative and strange. But ultimately, to each their own."
Yikes. Well, do you agree with these? What are some other viral internet trends that are actually toxic? Tell us in the comments, or use this anonymous form below.
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