Why people post themselves crying online? \ stacker news ~science

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Why people post themselves crying online?edition.cnn.com/2025/01/11/us/crying-selfies-social-media-wellness-cec/index.html

191 sats \ 4 comments \ @NovaRift 12 Jan science

There was a time when crying in front of others might have induced shame and embarrassment.

But for younger generations who can scarcely remember a time without social media, it’s now common to post teary-eyed photos and videos for all your followers to see.

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15 sats \ 1 reply \ @south_korea_ln 12 Jan

I want to believe that it is not as simple, and that for some people it is a genuine moment of sharing some difficult time with others, but for me, and likely most in the older generation that didn't grow up with Tiktok, my default interpretation will be the one given in this paragraph

“Now you’ve got crying and tears as a way of generating engagement, views, likes, clicks and helping to build your brand,” she says. “It’s monetizable in a way that it literally never has been in society.”

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @NovaRift OP 13 Jan

That's a fair point. I think it really depends on the intent some genuinely seek support, others might be using vulnerability as a tool for attention or monetization. Social media blurs those lines, it's hard to tell what's authentic and what's performance.

10 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby 12 Jan

This is a phenomenon I will never understand.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @NovaRift OP 13 Jan

Totally understandable.