Twitter has become a bonfire that keeps burning as of late. With all the latest changes that are happening, the fire is getting stronger. But why is Twitter so toxic? Even before Elon Musk took over the HQ in San Francisco, California, the platform was not the nicest one. There are a ton of reasons why Twitter is considered to be a negative platform.
Twitter is a free social platform. But it does follow the general guidelines for a social platform. Recently, many rumors have been spreading regarding privacy on Twitter. Many users tweeted, can people see what you search on Twitter? You can now easily subscribe to Twitter blue. This move was made to remove the significance of the blue verification badge on Twitter. As Twitter is being transformed into a more free-speech platform, the negativity can increase as well.
There are many reasons for Twitter being labeled as a toxic environment. Many people would agree with it. This can also be the reason why so many people are leaving Twitter to join Mastodon. So, why is Twitter so Toxic? Here is everything you need to know about it.
In This Article
Why is Twitter so Toxic?
Twitter is a place that is best suited for stating your opinions. It is not intended to start a conversation. People simply log in, say what they feel within 280 characters, and leave. So it can become toxic. Let me tell you all the reasons for why is Twitter so toxic.
1. Character Count Limitations
Twitter has a character count limit. Every single word and space is taken into count. If your character count is more than 280, you will not be able to post your tweet on the social platform. This makes it difficult for users to say all they want about many things. The tweet may seem toxic and senseless if you read the tweets without going through the entire thread. This gives way to more toxicity on Twitter. Let me tell you another reason why Twitter is so toxic.
2. Tweets of Fake News and Misinformation
Twitter is a free-to-use platform. This also means that anyone can use the social platform. There is no real in-time checking done for news accounts. While free speech is a major feature of Twitter, this also gives rise to a toxic social platform. If you have an account on Twitter, you can tweet anything you want. Your account will not be removed unless it is reported by users on Twitter. This makes it easy for hate groups to spread fake news and information. Without knowing the entire situation the news or information can be taken out of context easily. Let’s see the next reason that makes Twitter so toxic.
3. Unrestricted Opinions
Twitter has a character count. But it does not restrict or limit hate speech or negative opinions. Since there is no restriction on the language you can use to express your opinions people tend to go overboard. Twitter has become a place for people to express their opinions without thinking about the consequences. Most social platforms have a restriction on the language that is used. Even if you use explicit language to express your opinion repeatedly, Twitter does not ban its users. The accounts are not removed unless users report the account. This is one of the important reasons why is Twitter so toxic.
4. Mass Bullying and Harassment
Hate speech against any individual usually ends up gathering a ton of audience on Twitter. This can easily turn into mass bullying on the platform. Twitter does have a history of becoming toxic as groups of people bully and harass users on the platform. This is another reason for why is Twitter so Toxic.
How to Stay Away from Toxicity on Twitter?
Twitter can get toxic if you use the platform every day. This can affect your mind a lot. But you can use the platform in a manner that is healthy for you. You can start by restricting your usage time on Twitter. Now that you know why Twitter is so toxic, here are some ways to eliminate hate speech or negativity on Twitter.
1. Unfollow Accounts
If you find an account on Twitter is spreading toxicity, you can always unfollow the account. This is the easiest and quickest way you can remove toxicity from at least your Twitter feed. This will help you see only tweets from the people and account you are still following.
2. Mute Offensive Words or Phrases
Twitter has made it easier than ever to filter your feed. If you find a word triggering or offensive, you can simply filter it. You can add the word, words, or even an entire phrase to Mute. This will remove all the tweets that have the word or phrase in them. This way, you can avoid unfollowing accounts but still make your feed more positive.
3. Mute Accounts
You can also mute accounts on Twitter. If you cannot unfollow any Twitter account, you can choose to Mute Account. This will restrict all their tweets from your feed. You can mute accounts using your phone or PC. Muting a user account will, however, keep you as a follower of the account. But if you face bullying or harassment online, you can try the next way to protect your peace.
4. Block Account
This is possibly the last resort you can take. If you don’t want any Twitter account to contact you any further, you can block the user. This is the best way to go if you are facing online harassment or bullying. If a Twitter account is bullying you through DMs, you can simply block the user. The person will not be able to contact you on Twitter anymore.
Wrapping Up
So, now you know why Twitter is toxic. The social platform was not intended to spread negativity. But it is designed with unrestricted usage, giving rise to unfiltered opinions and hate speech. You can avoid the toxic environment on Twitter by restricting the time you spend on the platform. You can also mute words or simply block the account. Follow us to know more. Keep scrolling through Path of EX!
