What y’all mad about today??

If you have a twitter account you probably are familiar with the phrase “what y’all mad about today.” Basically the trend is that at any given point on any day somebody can tweet that question and people respond with whatever’s fueling their negativity at the moment. Sometimes it’s funny. Usually it’s just sad. I see it as a really disturbing trend indicating a rise in the popularity of negative emotion and its expression. How did we get to this point where people seek to dwell on what’s wrong in their lives even when there’s so much good to focus on? How did we get to this point where people would rather talk about what they fear than what they are excited for?

I have a few theories.

First of all, politics are more present in the media than ever before. I always joke that politics are America’s favorite reality tv show, filmed from different angles on various networks. But it’s not just tv. Everywhere you look on social media it’s Trump this, Pelosi that, GOP this and Democrats that. People are more exposed to political news coverage, both fake and real, than ever before! And guess what the best selling news story usually has? Lots and lots of negativity. Doom and gloom. That’s what gets the most views and that’s what gets pushed onto us. On top of that, whatever party isn’t in control will always focus on repeating what’s bad about the status quo and how their party could fix it after the next election. So it’s really no wonder people feel like there’s so much to complain about! Every time we look at a screen, it’s the newest episode of “What y’all mad about today.”

So the hyper-coverage of politics in the media is the first factor. But the bigger reason we face so much negativity nowadays is on a more individual level. I fully believe that expressing negativity has become a quick and easy way to gain points with your peers. Here’s what I mean by that. I recently spent a night out with some friends and there were a few new faces I hadn’t met before. As soon as somebody mentioned the name Trump, one of the girls I didn’t know immediately jumped on the opportunity to voice her hatred towards the president. That’s fine by me. Countless people dislike him for good reasons. But I watched carefully as her intense dissent inspired a connection with others in the group, immediately earning her social points. And I felt bad. Is this how people make connections now? Through mutual negative emotions? It seemed like it worked though. Quick and easy.

What else? Depression and anxiety has become a meme-able topic online. Everyday I see popular tweets that joke about crippling depression, loneliness and social anxiety. And to me, they all sound like they’re supposed to be followed by some kind of nervous laughter.

“My friends: let’s go out tonight!

My depression: No.”

I don’t know if anyone actually finds this brand of humor funny or if they just like relatable content from others who are also sad. Either way I know it’s not healthy for people to be regularly influenced by it.

On the bright side, I think this trend is changing quickly. I’d even say it’s going to completely reverse. Positivity and optimism will be the new trend. People are recognizing that choosing to see opportunities instead of challenges is their best bet in life. Choosing to be excited about the future instead of dreading it is their best bet. Just look at the popularity of social media influencers like Gary Vee who preach these messages. People respond well to it because they know it’s true. Studies consistently show that positivity and success are overwhelmingly correlated! The simple fact is that good things come to those that look for good things.

I’m not trying to preach as if I’m some kind of super experienced success story. I’m 20. But one thing I do know is that every time I’ve ever acted out of bitterness or negativity, it has ended up being detrimental to me.

And I know of course that you can’t just switch off sadness if you’re truly depressed. But there’s no doubt in my mind that seeing and hearing constant optimism from the people around you can only help.

Filip, again.