In recent year, reading comments under short-form videos on Instagram or YouTube can feel uncomfortable. Small inconveniences in everyday life often escalate into anger, leaving abusive comments or expressing hostility toward the creators. Actions that were once considered trivial and widely accepted have now become sources of serious conflict.

  For example, there was a conflict about eating food on trains on Instagram. Unlike other means of transportation, eating food such as hamburgers or kimbap on trains had long been regarded as normal. However, in recent years, arguments frequently break out when someone complains about the smell of food. Some people upload videos online labeling such behavior as a nuisance, while others post videos asking whether they are being overly sensitive for feeling uncomfortable. In the end, comment sections often turn into another battlefield.

  Situations once considered minor inconveniences are now often seen as nuisances in everyday life as well. People frown or glare at others for making phone calls in cafes or for bags bumping into others on public transportation. While these situations may be considered matters of public etiquette, some critics argue that society has become excessively sensitive. Feeling uncomfortable is natural, but a social atmosphere where small inconveniences immediately lead to anger is unusual.

  Today, our society often appears insensitive toward major issues such as the climate crisis or low birth rates, yet reacts with intense anger to everyday inconveniences or even a remark by a public figure. Furthermore, expressions of hatred toward others seem to be becoming increasingly common. According to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, prolonged COVID-19 restrictions normalized non-face-to-face interactions and increased the use of digital platforms, may have contributed to the spread of online hate. In the commission’s 2021 survey on the perception of online hate speech, 59.5% of respondents said that hatred and discrimination had increased in Korean society after COVID-19, and 90.2% believed that this had deepened social conflict. From internet news comments to YouTube channels and other social media platforms, anger and hostility are often expressed with less hesitation.

  Abusive language on social media often associated with anonymity has long been a source of concern. The rapid increase in expressions of anger and hatred may also be linked to a decline in empathy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, as face-to-face interactions were limited for extended periods, society has become more individualized in some ways. With fewer opportunities to communicate and share thoughts with others, people have become more confined within their own beliefs. In turn, they may be less likely to consider others’ perspectives and more likely to judge behavior they personally find uncomfortable as wrong.

  Our society today often seems to struggle with effective communication. A society that easily condemns others can become uncomfortable and exhausting for everyone. This is why moments of pause and reflection can matter. In a world where diverse people live together, it is not always easy to apply a single standard to every situation. It may also help to build a habit of reconsidering our reactions especially before responding in anger based only on our own perspectives.