Over the summer, I wrote an article meant to make us all stop and think— “Wait a minute,” I said. I wanted to spark a conversation, to challenge the status quo. Yet, despite my efforts, it seems like I’ve been met with silence. Maybe it was because I wasn’t forceful enough, or maybe we were just all too busy. But I’m back again, and this time I want responses. I want you to get mad, or angry, or at least to respond. Let’s talk about something that’s urgent— cyberbullying—and the role we all play in it.
Cyberbullying is one of the most pervasive and harmful forms of bullying today. It impacts children and adults alike, often leaving deep, invisible scars. But even though we know how dangerous it is, we continue to send everyone to the very platforms that enable it . Why? It’s as if we’re knowingly handing people the tools to destroy each other, all while pretending we’re doing something good by directing people to social media for information.

The Unseen Dangers of Social Media
Let’s get one thing clear: social media isn’t just a place to post cute pictures of your dog or share vacation photos. It’s become the go-to source for everything. The good, the bad, the ugly, and yes— the bullying. Social media platforms—Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook—are breeding grounds for the worst kind of behavior. Bullies can hide behind anonymous profiles, making cruel, humiliating comments without consequence. They spread rumors, shame people, and leave emotional damage in their wake. And yet, this is where we send everyone for their information .
Think about it. We encourage our children, our colleagues, our friends, and ourselves to go online for news, for updates, for entertainment—and yes, even for guidance. But what do we get in return? Endless scrolling. A vortex of posts, memes, videos, the latest trends—all designed to keep you hooked . We get distracted. We get tired. We get overwhelmed—and in the process, we lose sight of what’s really important. And in the worst cases, we get bullied. Or we bully. We make jokes at someone’s expense. We click ‘like’ on comments that hurt others. It’s all happening in real-time, and we’re all complicit.

The Addiction to Social Media
You’re not alone in wondering why we’re all so obsessed with these platforms. Social media is designed to keep us hooked. It’s like a digital slot machine, rewarding us with a shot of dopamine every time we scroll past something interesting, funny, or shocking. People’s attention has become a commodity now. Businesses, organizations, and even news outlets know this, and they’re more focused on engaging that addiction than on thinking critically about the platforms themselves. The goal isn’t to inform—it’s to get your eyeballs on content, and to do that, they’ll continue to feed you things that are entertaining or controversial, even if it means ignoring the harm that’s done in the process.
This is where the illusion of control comes in. Social media makes us think we have direct access to the truth, that we can find what we need with a simple search. But in reality, algorithms decide what we see, and we’re far more likely to be fed content that keeps us engaged rather than content that challenges our perspectives. We’re bombarded with posts, videos, ads, memes—everything vying for our attention, pulling us in different directions. It’s no wonder we can’t focus on what really matters. Yet, despite knowing how easily we can get caught in this web of distractions, we’re still encouraged to rely on social media for everything, even for important, life-altering information.

What Businesses Are Doing Right That We’re Getting Wrong
Here’s where it gets frustrating. While we’re all stuck in this social media loop, other businesses are thriving by sticking to the basics. Take grocery stores, for example, or big-box retailers. They’re still advertising in newspapers, using traditional media, and guess what? They’re doing just fine. In fact, they’re thriving. Why? Because they’ve recognized that people still value trusted sources of information. They know that traditional, direct communication works. People know they can trust the ads they see in physical spaces—they’re focused, concise, and not buried in the endless scroll.
So why are we, as individuals, businesses, and organizations, still pushing people to social media for everything? Why are we sending people into the digital wilderness, where bullies hide behind screens, where the noise never stops, and where real conversations get lost in the shuffle?
The truth is, we need to take responsibility for the environments we’re promoting. We don’t have to keep sending people to these platforms , where harm is a guarantee and distraction is a constant. There’s a better way —a way that focuses on quality over quantity, on meaningful conversations rather than empty likes and shares.
It’s time to start asking the hard questions. Why are we so addicted to these platforms? Why do we keep funneling people into spaces that we know are toxic? We’ve all seen the damage caused by cyberbullying. So why, in good conscience, do we continue to send people into those same spaces, time and time again? It’s irresponsible, and frankly, it’s dangerous.
What can we do? First, we need to shift the conversation. We can create alternatives to the social media noise. We can create spaces that encourage healthy interaction, where information is shared without distractions, and where bullying is not allowed to fester in the background. We need to stop playing into the system that profits off of our attention, and instead, start fostering environments where people’s well-being comes first.
So, are we going to keep enabling a system that hurts so many, or are we going to take responsibility? I don’t have all the answers, but I’m asking you to start the conversation. Let’s get mad, let’s get frustrated, and most importantly—let’s get involved.
I want your responses. I want to hear how you feel about this. I want to know if you’re as fed up as I am with how things are going. It’s time to rethink where we’re sending people for information—and stop ignoring the consequences . Let’s talk about the real issues, not just the distractions. Because the truth is, our attention is worth more than endless scrolling .