Until recently, I had the misconception that only vulgar or absurd content was seen on social media, especially in reels and videos. I thought this was perhaps the influence of the visual medium, where glamour, bodies, and noise are what sell. But recently, after reading some longer posts, my illusion was shattered. Now, not only visuals, but language too has become marketable. Vulgarity is no longer just in front of the camera, but also on the tip of the pen.
The topics in these posts are the same old, “trending” ones—male-bashing, women’s suffering in relationships, or the narrow-mindedness of society. But the most shocking thing is that the language used to express these thoughts seems less like language than a celebration of abuse. Likes and comments pour in, and crowds applaud—as if vulgarity has become the name of some new “literary genre.”
It was once said that writing is harder than looking. Writing means thinking, contemplating, and speaking from the heart on a subject. Words were once a means of awakening society, not appealing to the crowd. But today, this balance has been overtaken by a new hunger—the hunger for popularity. Now, whoever writes the sharpest, most incisive, and most controversial will be the most watched.
This race for “clicks” and “comments” has nearly sapped the dignity of words. Language no longer means expression, but rather provocation. And this trend isn’t limited to the illiterate or insensitive—sometimes the very people who advocate for social reform, family values, and sweet relationships also pounce on these posts. They not only read them, but also make their presence felt by sending “likes,” “hearts,” and “fire emojis”—as if this were some kind of cultural movement.
This question stings the most—what’s the appeal of this vulgarity? Do people truly agree with these ideas, or is it simply a compulsion to join the crowd? From a psychological perspective, social media has given individuals an “invisible identity.” Now, whatever they can’t say, do, or show in real life, they can do so fearlessly in the virtual world. This freedom has gradually morphed into anarchy. Language decorum, social sensitivity, and the dignity of others—all have been given free rein.
Insulting someone, provoking groups, injecting venom into satire—all of this is now called “creativity.” Vulgar language is being labeled “fearless expression,” and civilized discourse is being labeled “hypocrisy.” The noise of words has replaced ideas.
The irony is that this same society teaches children about decorum, values, and respect at home, but on virtual platforms, those same people send laughing emojis to posts containing abusive language. This means there’s a vast difference between our real and virtual morality. Digital platforms gave us the opportunity for dialogue, but we’ve turned them into arenas for debate. Where once there was a clash of ideas, now there’s a clash of words.
This trend isn’t just a language problem, it’s a sign of the erosion of social culture. When words become corrupted, thoughts become distorted. And when thoughts become distorted, intolerance flourishes in society. This is precisely what is happening today—every group considers its position to be the “only truth,” and has a ready-made slur against anyone who disagrees.
Art—whether writing or acting—is a medium of communication with society. But there’s a difference between communication and attack. Words that hurt someone’s dignity are not expressions, but displays of anger. And when this anger becomes a shortcut to popularity, society needs to introspect.
We need to understand the difference between popularity and dignity. Writing shouldn’t be about “what people will say,” but about “what I want to say.” A true writer communicates with conscience, not with the crowd. But unfortunately, today social media has turned literature into entertainment and ideas into business.
Every like, every comment, every share—it’s not just a button, it’s a moral decision. When we respond to a vulgar post, we inadvertently encourage that trend. Digital platform algorithms only show what gets viewed the most. Therefore, vulgar content only grows when we promote it. If viewers become responsible, creators will be forced to improve. A sensitive and cultured society is one where the criteria for popularity is the dignity of words, not the provocation of words.
Social media is no longer a reflection of an individual, but of society as a whole. What is written, said, and shared here is becoming our collective thinking. If we want to maintain decency and compassion in society, we must adopt the same discipline in our virtual behavior as we do in real life. The popularity of vulgar words is short-lived, but their impact is deep and long-lasting. The power of ideas lies in the dignity of words, not in their vulgarity.
So now is the time to pause and reflect—are we truly exercising freedom of expression, or simply celebrating the freedom of incivility? And if the answer is the latter, we must remember—language is the first hallmark of civilization, and when language declines, society declines too.
Author is a Research Scholar in Political Science. She can be mailed at priyankasaurabh9416@gmail.com
