As I’m sure many of my peers can agree, I’m addicted to my phone. Embarrassing as it is, I lie in bed on many nights scrolling through Instagram Reels and TikTok, and with each video, the little voice in my head goes, “Okay, just one more, then go to bed,” and instead, I end up watching for another 30 minutes. Our phones, of course, provide never-ending entertainment, but the internet’s vast reach also creates bonds and connections that would be otherwise impossible, and many, including myself, deeply value it.
Recently, though, I came across a mixed Asian-American woman on TikTok mentioning her annoyance with Caucasian people shopping at Asian grocery stores, saying that she “can’t help but side-eye them” and giving subtle snark. The opinion wasn’t outrageously unpopular, but in her attempt to convey a relatable sarcastic jab, she instead lit communities on fire. I didn’t think much of it, but a few days later, I came across someone making a response video, criticizing her for making someone feel like an outsider. Then, a whole week later, I was surprised to scroll to another person with a similarly judgmental view on the same topic, but now, an Asian creator describing the initial woman as ridiculous to judge others, arguing that since she was mixed white and Asian, her Asian identity was invalid. Video after video sent roaring hostility, each leading to hateful and harmful comments, some even trying to dox the side-eyeing TikToker. While criticizing her for acting prejudicially, comment-writers and creators ended up doing the same thing, and all I could think was, “Was this really this big of a deal?”
This certainly is not uncommon; cancel culture and not-so-scandalous scandals have always been a part of the internet. Boycotting a creator or a brand can be valid, especially since preventing a harmful presence from spreading on the ever-expanding internet is unquestionably beneficial for communities. Social media users are extremely opinionated, and not all opinions are acceptable. However, when a mistake becomes a snowball made of more exaggeration than the original topic, it’s hard to defend cancellation when it goes too far.
Controversy is entertainment, and as wholesome cute animal videos are, or how fun dance trends can be, people, me included, will always be captivated by drama. But when it’s only making a ruckus just to make a ruckus, it takes away from the fun that the internet brings, and instead makes it tiring. The world is problematic enough, so why turn a creative outlet into more hate and debate? Perhaps this evening is the one to decide that it wasn’t that big of a deal, and really put the phone down when the little voice says so.
