This blog post examines why aggressiveness on the internet is intensifying and how anonymity and social changes influence this trend.
What defines strength? In ancient times during human evolution, physical strength or abundant experience likely served as the measure of strength. As villages formed and wars began, power became the new standard of strength. Later, as cities developed into nations and the concept of currency emerged, wealth became another measure. Then, within a remarkably short span of human history, dazzling scientific progress gave birth to a new standard: information and knowledge. It is self-evident that information holds immense value for people living in the modern era.
So why has the value of information become so crucial? Information is not merely an accumulation of knowledge; it has become the most critical factor in decision-making. Across all fields—economy, politics, culture—information is directly linked to power, and misinformation can lead to catastrophic consequences. For instance, making investment decisions based on false information in the stock market can result in massive losses. Thus, information has become a powerful weapon directly tied to people’s lives.
People acquire information in their own unique ways. While books, rumors, and acquaintances are among the various means, the tool modern people rely on most is undoubtedly the internet. The internet, where countless new articles and photos are uploaded ceaselessly every day, is like a vast ocean brimming with information. The ease of obtaining desired information with just a few clicks has proven immensely appealing. Consequently, countless people swim daily in this sea of information.
However, it has become increasingly clear that the internet is growing more aggressive. The emergence of the new term ‘malicious comments’—referring to the act of posting replies filled with malicious insults and slander on others’ posts—clearly illustrates this shift. Malicious comments can sometimes be so severe they lead to murder or suicide. Several celebrities and ordinary people have developed depression or, unable to endure the abuse, have taken their own lives. Comment sections under celebrity-related articles are often flooded with both supportive and malicious comments, frequently devolving into factional fights. The reality where violent and obscene expressions are casually exchanged in internet webtoon comment sections or games is vastly different from just a few years ago.
What caused the internet to become so violent? While there are multiple reasons, societal changes likely played a major role. Even in the 1990s, interactions with neighbors were active, and people maintained close relationships, knowing not only each other’s names but even the dates of relatives’ weddings. However, modern society has seen these relationships become sparse. Even when moving, people rarely give rice cakes to neighbors; in apartments, many don’t even know their neighbors’ names. This shows society is becoming increasingly individualistic and indifferent to others.
Furthermore, society is growing more sensationalistic. While conservative attire was once the norm, turning on TV today reveals an abundance of celebrities in revealing outfits. Harsh words that could hurt others are now commonplace, and accepting them as normal has become a modern comedy code. Media headlines have also become far more sensational and provocative compared to the past. These social changes have undoubtedly influenced the aggressiveness seen online.
Changes in the internet itself are also an unavoidable cause. In the early 1990s, the concept of PC bangs (internet cafes) didn’t even exist. Today, however, even students living alone have computers in their rooms, and internet access has become extremely easy. As internet use became widespread, diverse people gained access online, increasing the potential for clashes of opinion and conflict. Particularly, people dissatisfied with society or adolescents whose values are not yet established access the internet to vent their frustrations, making the online space increasingly aggressive.
Anonymity also fuels the internet’s violence. In the past, conversations between people occurred through direct face-to-face interaction, but on the internet, one can hide behind a nickname. This allows people to shed moral constraints, reveal themselves less, and utter words they would never imagine saying otherwise. The mask of the internet has become a cause for people to engage in more cruel and aggressive behavior.
These diverse factors have interacted to create today’s aggressive internet culture. While various government-level efforts are being made to address these issues, the aggressiveness of the internet continues to intensify. This aggression reaches its peak on community sites established for political purposes. Beyond these, provocative and aggressive posts are also overflowing on numerous other community sites.
Among the tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of people online, how many will I ever meet? If we happen to encounter someone online, that meeting might be more than just a coincidence. So, must we use aggressive language toward them? If we just paid a little more attention to the people behind the screens, couldn’t the internet become a slightly warmer and more comfortable space?