how do you deal with this online

like i'm on youtube a heck of a lot and i've had times where someone i don't know, who doesn't know me, has replied to my comment on a video and 'assumed' something false about me? and i've had times when someone has commented ' you are this or you are that' - basically posted false statements about me as if they are facts.

and i've thought ' how on earth did you come up with that conclusion about me ' or perceive something which isn't true, when i don't know you and you don't know me????

and i find it hard to ignore incidences like that, because i'm touchy about what people perceive about me and easily take offence.

so how should you deal with situations like this online?

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BurningBright · 31-35, M

It’s easier to block them and move on…

HOWEVER, if you need to get the last word I before the block. Say something polite but fair as a rebuttal like, I’m not that person, that’s not me, you don’t know me, you’d be incorrect to assume that, or some other way to assert you aren’t the person you think (more for other’s benefit to know you don’t endorse X as a position) without entering into a troll-debate, which is their aim.

Afterwards block, you can even state that you’re blocking them so they understand you aren’t engaging with them further, you’re simply correcting an unworthy assumption.

People online are knee-jerk reactionaries who type fast and think they’re right without and deeper thought into it. It’s better to keep cool. Assert yourself as not being like that in a calm way and not getting dragged into a protracted debate

durinsBane1983 · 46-50, M

@BurningBright thankyou mate, i thought that was brilliant advice and it really helped me, also about my other post about social media in general and AI, because i rely on social media for connection with people, do you think things will get that bad where there won't be any human activity online anymore?

i think thats what i'm afraid of, as i remember you said you thought social media is dying off and it worried me? so was just hoping for a bit if reassurance and how you see it going? many thanks and happy new year.

BurningBright · 31-35, M

@durinsBane1983 No worries 😉 happy to help!

As for social media in general and AI. I see the market in a shift of uncertainty at the moment. But rest assured, I think social media will always be present in some form or another :)

Similar to you, I rely on it as well as a form of social connection, there has always been some form of social networking website, sites like Bebo and MySpace were early examples of it that failed to be future proof. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter (X) are the dominant platforms today, some might change or adapt and I’d imagine a couple will gradually become obsolete, and potentially a few new ones will emerge and become more popular.

AI is tricky, at present it’s a bubble and it could burst. Already opinions are split, some embrace and rely on it, others have concerns and are skeptical of it for the negative aspects. There’s always a lot of misinformation and fake imagery being created by AI.

Like many of us I’m on the fence, I ask chatGPT advice, but I’m not addicted to it to the extent a worrying number of us are, some individuals are forming unhealthy bonds with it and it’s also damaging people’s independence and critical thinking skills, which is scary because it means they are following the AI’s advice without questioning it!

I think although some of us might want somewhat unhealthy AI connections, the vast majority of people want authenticity as a priority, we want human artwork, candid photos, and human interaction as a pushback against AI.

I think there’s always going to be social media and there may be some AI elements, but humanity will eventually settle and get the balance right. The *surviving* social media platforms will get the right balance of human-to-human social interaction as well as an acceptable element of AI. Ultimately, we can’t form a healthy relationship with an AI, so we will always want authentic connection and communication with other people.