The Digital Ripple Effect: Spreading Positivity in Online Spaces
Brought to you by: Zohaib Qureishi, Seasonal Public Relations Intern at Digital4Good Digital for Good x #iCanHelp. We have partnered 🤝 together during this Digital Literacy Week and will continue to feature the youth voices from their team. ↴
Imagine scrolling through social media and seeing nothing but supportive comments, encouraging messages, and meaningful conversations. Sounds almost too good to be true, right?
That’s the kind of online world we all deserve. The internet should be a place where we can connect, learn, and grow without fear of judgment or negativity. But let’s be real: it’s not always what we get. Cyberbullying, online harassment, and negativity are everywhere, and it’s easy to feel like the Internet is more toxic than positive.
But what if we changed that? What if we created digital spaces where people build each other up instead of tearing others down?
Why Toxicity Is Trending
Social media is where we spend a huge part of our lives, and it can either be a force for good or a source of negativity. Unfortunately, social media frequently brings out the worst in us.
Social media accounts allow users to hide behind a screen, making it easier to say things online that we wouldn’t dare say in person. Without face-to-face accountability, bullying and trolling become more commonplace.
It doesn’t help that social media loves drama. How often have you had your curiosity piqued by a callout post or an online feud? The more engagement these posts get, the more the algorithm pushes them to the top of our feeds.
Why Positivity Matters
Being kind online isn’t just about making people feel good. It has a real impact on mental health, confidence, and the friendships we form. When online spaces are positive and inclusive, they encourage open dialogue, give people the confidence to express themselves authentically, and strengthen connections that go beyond likes and comments. They can even improve our mental well-being by lowering anxiety and stress caused by cyberbullying.
How You Can Help
We can’t control what others post, but we can choose to be part of the solution. That means using our online presence to build people up, not tear them down.
Think Before You Post: Consider the impact your words might have on the people reading them. Follow the “T.H.I.N.K.” acronym: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it inspiring? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
Good Vibes Only: Support positive behavior by engaging with posts that spread good energy. Leave supportive comments on friends’ posts and share content you find uplifting.
Clean Up Your Feed: Unfollow accounts that promote online drama, like rumor or gossip pages. Follow and interact with uplifting, educational, and inspiring accounts.
Practice Digital Wellness: Take breaks when social media starts to feel overwhelming. Make it a point to hang out with friends in person, not just online, and seek out offline hobbies and clubs.
We all have the power to shape digital spaces for the better. Let’s make kindness the new normal.
✨A word from LookUp ✨
If you have ideas or solutions that could heal or improve mental health in the digital world, consider applying to our LookUp Innovation Challenge for 2026. This is an opportunity to be awarded up to $2,500, learn leadership skills, bring about change, and get connected to programming that will help turn your idea into a reality. The deadline to apply is November 18th at 11:59 pm PT.
