The Internet and the Art of Apathy
I've been noticing it a lot in the last few years but there seems to be a rise in the lack of empathy people decide to display on the internet. I honestly think a lot of it stems from people not wanting to show weakness to prevent anyone using it against them. I don't disagree with this idea myself personally (aka: I find it very hard to share personal stuff with people), however it seems its become mixed with complete apathy for the feelings of others.
I hope I don't sound like those people that say 'oh I hate TikTok so much' and make it their whole personality, but it is the main example I can think of that displays this much apathy in one spot. Of course, I haven't personally used TikTok (actively) in over a few years, but I've seen videos already mention this. There'd be a serious topic that someone would post and the people in the comments would make jokes as if it was something to joke about.
This is already an issue, of course, but it becomes so much impactful when involving the government. Case and point, the Epstein files. People would often downplay the importance of the files as well as the people at the top that gain everything by not showing them (although reputations have already been shattered by the files that have been out).
The government values people becoming complacent and desensitized by everything that is going on as it directly benefits their positions. Less public outrage means less pushback and reason to act.
So, what I'm saying is that it is immature at best and deplorable at worse for people to be joking about such serious things not only because they shouldn't be joked about, but because it results in a thick layer of complacency that becomes harder to break.
Apart from apathy seen in something involving the government, people on TikTok tend to make jokes about peoples relatives that have died. People tend to use the photo feature in order to use memes that downplay the severity that a death (or honestly anything serious) has on the original poster.
I'm hoping it is not too late for people to change their outlook on these things, but I unfortunately have less and less faith as time goes on. I can of course understand the feeling of not knowing what to do in a world where only those at the top can do anything, but it will never be a valid reason or excuse for the lack of tactility that people have regarding sensitive topics discussed.