DISCLAIMER
Recently in the retroweb space (Napo, Spacehey, FriendRewind, & somewhat Neocities) I've noticed a lot of edgy teenagers in the scene saying stuff like "I'm SOOOO proplematic!" or just saying generally edgy, or just straight offensive things. I've even seen these teenagers just say they are a Nazis. Some just do it to look "cool." (Just a tip, it makes you look corny.) But I look at these young people (usually 13-16) and I just scowl. Especially when they get mad for getting critizm. This is the internet. A very public space. You posted something publically. When you post something pubically, expect to get critiqued. Especially if it's you, a teenager telling people you are "problematic." If you were so "problematic," you wouldn't care what people think. Along with this, I propose two questions, what's the appeal of being problematic? What is so special about it? I don't understand why these people want people to not like them/not associate with them. Usually, when you're "problematic" people don't want to assoicate with you. What's the appeal? I think I do know why these kids want to be considered "problematic." They want to larp 4chan anime culture.
For some odd reason, these kids think that if you draw moe art, or you like moe anime, you have to be problematic. It basically romanticization. They want to be like grown adults on 4chan back in the day. Why? Because they think it's glamerous. They think having no social life and doing bad things is great.
I also think that there's more to be concerned about with this behavior. The internet lasts forever, but your edgy teenage personality doesn't. You could easily be tracked online. Why risk it even more by saying things to upset people? Along with this, your job, school, or family could find it at anytime. Is you glamerizing being "problematic" and "edgy" worth you getting in trouble with your place of work? Your school? Your family? And even if then, again, your bad takes and "problematic behavior" online could get yourself stalked (cyber and IRL,) it could get your family into trouble with their jobs, or put them in danger. Why would you risk that for simply being a nusience online? I think I know why. Kids are stupid. They don't think about what they post online beforehand. They don't think about the IRL consequences.
I'll use an in-community example (I am simply using this situation as a lesson. Not to drag dead drama out.) Catbat/Sammy. For those that don't know, Sammy was a sixteen year old who hated Napo so much they made up possibily life-ruining lies about me and a few friends of mine. They posted threats, stalked us, etc. The thing is, we had archived EVERYTHING, and reported it to their school. This is a PRIME example of how teenagers simply don't think before posting something online. And that kind've leaks into the whole "romantization" of being "problematic." Especially with teenagers. I believe we, as adults should make SURE kids are safe online. Encluding warning them to not post things about being "problematic" or attacking people.
Comments
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killthatfuckingbird
Great ted talk ദ്ദി ´⌣` )
Teenagers like this really are the bane of my existence. Back during the beginning of the year, my feed was mostly teenagers advertising group chats to join where "problematic people" could hang out, which I found absurd. These kids are completely misusing the word, conflating "problematic" with being a bit messy, dramatic, or troubled as a sort of edgy slang identity. I looked into these groups, and honestly, these KIDS don’t really realize how much trouble they can get into on the internet. They treat it like a harmless aesthetic, failing to realize how severe the consequences can be since it's not a real-life scenario to them, just a text on a device with no consequences. By inviting strangers into a space dedicated to being "problematic," they are blindly exposing themselves to real-world cyber risks, permanent digital footprints, and online predators, all for the sake of a misunderstood internet label. I do agree parents should be more aware of their kids on the internet; these teenagers won't understand the risk or severity of their choices and actions until it's too late.
RayFromTheNet
i might make my own post about it sometime but stuff like the glamorization of being problematic becoming so widespread amongst teens is why i hate when people use age as a cop out for bigot/pred behavior. if they have "problematic and proud" in their bio they knew it was wrong.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗧𝗬
I swear it's almost like they don't know how badly this will impact their future. I'm glad you brought this topic up.
,.•°‰M€B♪GB@££$‰°•.,
parents allowing their kids unrestricted internet access without any assistance is the root of most problems on the internet