‘Cringe has ruined the internet’: Why young people no longer want to share anything online
Unlike the days when millennials exposed themselves without a filter, Gen Zs are more aware of their digital footprint. However, the fact that embarrassment is winning out over a feeling of online community is not good news
A design student born in 2007 named Toni Hernández believes that the word "cringe" has ruined social media. He remembers a time when YouTubers who talked about video games, graphic novels, or anime were considered cool and funny. However, today, those creators would be seen as nerds. Cringe is defined as a particular kind of embarrassment felt when witnessing someone else's clumsiness, ridiculous behavior, or inappropriate comment.
This fear of causing cringe or secondhand embarrassment causes many Gen Z individuals to refrain from posting certain things and meticulously consider what they share online, fearing negative reactions.
Paula Sánchez, also a design student, echoes Hernández's sentiment. She notes that social media now makes people feel "very 'millennial'" when they share their lives online. This phenomenon is particularly disconcerting for Gen Z, as many Millennials are accustomed to sharing almost all their thoughts and memories online, having grown up with platforms like MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
The rise of cringe culture has resulted in a more homogenized internet, where people are less likely to express themselves freely. Instead of original content, social media is now dominated by brand advertising and AI-generated content. This shift has led some teenagers to view the phrase "cringe" as cringe itself. However, there is still an ongoing debate about whether the fear of being perceived as cringe is ending online exhibitionism or merely a generational trait of social anxiety.
Publicist and podcast host Lorena Macías suggests that the fear of cringe is more about the fear of not fitting in, regardless of age. She observes that social norms are now more strictly enforced online, leading to higher standards of purity and impeccability. The series "Millennial Mal" explores these concerns, as a 42-year-old librarian interacts with university students who are two decades younger than her. The show reflects many Gen Z concerns and highlights the amplified fear of cringe in the digital age.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
