In the fast-paced world of social media, humour is a much lapped up commodity. In 2020, it was estimated that the global meme market was worth $2.3 billion; by 2025 this number is projected to more than triple to reach an expected total value of $6.1.2 billion, according to Enterprisers App Today.
From viral memes to witty tweets, the internet serves as a global stage where laughter knows no boundaries. However, beneath the surface of these seemingly innocent laughs lies a complex mesh that could be insensitive to people. Let’s look at some of them and see if the desensitization merits reflection?
1. LOL at People Falling
Find amusement in other’s misfortunes. Videos of people slipping on banana peels or stumbling into unexpected situations garner millions of views and giggles. While these moments may provoke genuine laughter, they also raise questions about the ethics of finding humour in someone else’s embarrassment, hurt or pain.
2. Prank Videos
Videos of scare tactics to more elaborate and potentially harmful scenarios, attract millions of views and shares across social media platforms. The allure of watching someone’s genuine reaction to a prank can be irresistible, drawing viewers into a shared experience of laughter and amusement. However, the line between harmless fun and schadenfreude becomes a grey area in the digital world, where the quest for likes and laughter and shares can overshadow empathy.
3. The Rise of Dark Humour
A genre that creates the connection between taboo topics and comedic relief – be it trivialising illness or tragedy, the genre reduces complex human experiences to humorous punchlines.
4. Sexist or Racist Jokes: The Perils of Punching Down
Another controversial aspect of social media humour is the prevalence of jokes that perpetuate stereotypes or marginalize certain groups. Sexist jokes, racist memes, and xenophobic comments can spread like wildfire across platforms, amplifying harmful stereotypes and reinforcing discriminatory attitudes. What may start as a seemingly harmless jest can contribute to a culture of intolerance and division, undermining efforts towards inclusivity and mutual respect.
5. The ‘Womp Womp’ trend
The “womp womp” trend initially emerged from a sound effect commonly used in comedy and online memes to express disappointment, failure, or a sense of anticlimax. However recently, the trend remerged due to a reporter from ‘Fox News’ using it to dismiss the plight of a 10-year-old with down syndrome. The incident sparked publicity and trend to the phrase for it to be used in a similar fashion. The widespread adoption of the phrase can shape public attitudes and perceptions and can lead to acceptance of casual disregard for serious issues, fostering an environment where empathy and compassion are undervalued in favour of humour.
Yosra Jarrar, Ayodeji Awobamise, Sheila Nnabuife and Gabriel E. Nweke wrote in their article ‘Perception of Pranks on Social Media: Clout-Lighting’ in 2019 highlights how pranks, ranging from harmless jokes to more elaborate setups, are now used for entertainment and social media engagement.
They suggest, “These kinds of jokes sometimes extend beyond their boundaries dealing some negative blows on the personality of the victim(s) whose motion or still photographs are being used in trending Facebook, Instagram or YouTube videos that are uploaded by their intimate partners. The contents of the videos or photographs of the actions may promote the image of the victim or bring them to ridicule in a social media space full of physically known and unknown friends”.
While humour can serve as a means of connection, its impact on social consciousness cannot be overlooked. As consumers and creators of content, we must navigate the fine line between laughter and empathy, ensuring that our amusement does not come at the expense of others’ dignity or humanity. By fostering humour that is inclusive, thoughtful, and respectful, we can reclaim its power to unite rather than divide, to uplift rather than desensitize.
