5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Spreading Negativity on Social Media

I think we have all seen how negative social media has gotten in 2020 with everything that has gone on. We can’t get away from it. Negativity on the news, on the radio, and on every form of social media. Subjecting ourselves to so much negativity is not good for our mental health and our overall happiness. I think we’ve all seen, or maybe even experienced ourselves internet fights or bashing. It’s just not healthy behavior, and truthfully not worth your time. To hopefully help promote using our voices to spread positivity I’ve outlined some questions to ask yourself before posting something negative or hurtful on social media.

1. Why am I posting this?

This should be an easy question to answer, but sometimes when you critically think about why you are posting something, you may think twice. Are you sharing something negative to get more likes or gain popularity? This is something I wouldn’t recommend. You don’t want negative minded people all over your timeline, and when you share things that are negative that is the kind of people you attract to your timeline. Think to yourself, is this something everyone already knows? Is this information I’m sharing helpful? If not, it may be better not to share a negative post. If you think about this question and realize “I don’t really have a reason to share this or comment on this” even better! Sometimes thinking before you post is worth it!

2. Who does it benefit?

Let’s be real. We all see posts that we really don’t agree with, but is it worth commenting on and arguing or harassing someone on the internet? Chances are this does not benefit anyone, including you. Making someone else feel bad about their beliefs or something they have shared online will never benefit you. It doesn’t boost your social status, it doesn’t further your career, and in the end it won’t make you feel any better about the situation. Posting long personal rants about any issue going on in the world today typically won’t benefit anyone either. Before you post or comment, ask yourself who it benefits and if it doesn’t benefit anyone, keep scrolling on your timeline and move on.

3. Are my words hurtful to someone else?

We often don’t consider how someone else will feel when not in person to person conversation with someone. You can’t read someone’s emotions through social media, and you can’t connect on a personal level. This may be the most important question to ask yourself before you post. Harassing people on the internet and cancel culture is something we see on our timelines just about everyday, and it’s very easy to be cruel to someone behind a cell phone or laptop. This is why it’s so important to think about how your words are going to make someone feel. If what you’re posting is doing more harm than good, take a second before you post and decide if it’s worth it. I think most people don’t enjoy making others feel badly, so it’s worth the time to think about how your words can hurt people online. Your goal should not be to make someone feel bad when posting online.

4. Will I still be upset about it later?

I think we have all let our emotions get the best of us at least a couple times. This happens on social media too. We see information that upsets us, and we immediately want to say something. Take the time to look inward and ask yourself if you will still be this upset about it in an hour or two. If you aren’t sure, maybe even take the time to wait an hour before commenting or posting something. Sometimes it’s better to take the time to relax and see if it’s still upsetting you. Chances are, if you take some time away from social media you’ll feel a lot better and forget about whatever upset you in the first place!

5. Is this an accurate representation of me?

Think about who you are as a person, what do you stand for? What are your values? Would you say this to someone in face to face conversation? With where technology is today, how you represent yourself on social media is just as important as how you represent yourself day to day. Employers check your social media when you apply for a job for a reason. If what you are saying to people on social media and what you are posting doesn’t truly represent you as a person, reconsider what you are posting. If you aren’t usually a really negative person, try avoiding negative posts and try sharing some more positive and uplifting posts. We could all use some more positivity on our timelines, and it starts with ourselves.

We all know 2020 has been a really rough and long year so far. But, spreading negativity and harassing people online is just adding fuel to that fire. Ask yourself how you can spread more positivity on your timeline.

Zodiac Signs as Animal Crossing Characters

Animal Crossing has been wildly popular in 2020, with people of all ages starting island living! In the game you meet a lot of friendly characters, some live on the island, and some just pop in for a visit. This is based off their personalities, and not the characters’ actual birthdays. If you’ve ever wondered which character you are most like, find your zodiac sign & see what character you match up with.

Aries

You are C.J. the fishing beaver! Like C.J. you enjoy physical activity and sports (such as fishing). You are also very determined and enjoy a good challenge, like the fishing tournament C.J. wants you to join in on when he comes to visit. You can be impatient at times, C.J. shows a bit of this waiting for you to complete the Fishing Tourney; although he doesn’t show it often. You are also extremely loyal in relationships and friendships. If you noticed C.J. often mentions that his partner will make you a collectible if you catch three of the same fish. His partner has been rumored to be Flick the lizard who often talks about his art. Whether they have a romantic relationship or are just friends, C.J. is clearly loyal to Flick and promotes Flick’s art. I’m sure all you Aries out there catch all the fish on Animal Crossing with no problem!

Taurus

You are Mabel, the fashionista hedgehog! Like Mabel, you LOVE clothes, specifically well made clothes;m. At Able Sisters Mabel would say everything’s “made with a loving claw”. You are also very family oriented and like to be surrounded by the people you love, what represents that more than a hedgehog owning a business with her sister? Like Mabel you are also very trustworthy and dependable, I would hope that she is seeing it’s the only apparel store on the island! Taurus is well known as being very stubborn. Mabel will sometimes argue with her sister, maybe stubbornness plays a part in their spats. Lastly, Taureans do not shy away from hard work. Who knows, maybe you’ll own your own apparel store someday like Mabel!

Gemini

Gemini, the twins, you are Tommy and Timmy the almost in sync raccoons that work at Nook’s Cranny! Now, the fact that Tommy and Timmy are twins is not the only reason they are the best fit for Gemini’s. Gemini’s can lack a sense of direction at time, Tommy and Timmy typically follows Tom Nook’s lead and maybe it’s because they’re Gemini’s. Did you know that their birthday is June 7th, actually making them Gemini’s? Tommy and Timmy are are very gentle and curious, two great traits of Gemini’s. They speak softly and are very kind to everyone they interact with. Like Tommy and Timmy Gemini’s are two personalities in one. If you notice Tommy and Timmy try to speak in sync, but one is often off by a word or two. When you first get the shop for Nook’s Cranny, you’ll also notice how they manage different parts of the shop, meaning they have different strengths and are their own individual character. Like Tommy and Timmy you are probably the most easy going person around!

Cancer

You are the famous singing dog, K.K. Slider! Like K.K. you enjoy creativity and art, for K.K. that would be his music; and boy he has a lot of it. You are also known for being an emotional person, and associate a lot of things in life with emotion. If you talk to K.K. when he visits your island to perform, he may ask you how you are feeling and play a song based on that emotion for you, a very Cancer thing to do. You are also hard to get to know on a personal level. K.K. doesn’t share much about him personally or about his life when you talk to him, unlike many of the other villagers and characters. You are also known for being very charming, like the Animal Crossing super star K.K. Slider!

Leo

You are the Nook Inc. leader raccoon, Tom Nook! The first person to greet players on their adventure of island living! Like Tom Nook, you are a natural leader. You step into leadership roles with ease and you are confident in any role. Tom Nook is very confident in his role and definitely isn’t shy. Tom Nook is also known for being cheerful and humorous, two great Leo traits! Leos are one of the most humorous signs. You also enjoy being admired and sometimes can be egotistical, which we sometimes get a glimpse at when Tom Nook compliments his own ideas or creations. Lastly, Leos love being around people, Tom Nook invited you and other characters to an island, so I’d say he’s a people person. It makes sense that a Leo would be the person to make island living all possible!

Virgo

You are the island’s friendly ghost, Wisp! You are known for being shy, like Wisp who gets startled anytime you interact with him and usually keeps to himself. You also don’t like to be the center of attention. Although Wisp is a ghost, he doesn’t go around haunting people, showing he too doesn’t like being the center of attention. Virgos also don’t like asking for help, although Wisp asks you for help after scaring his spirits off, he usually seems a little hesitant asking for your help (again and again). You are also very reliable like Wisp, who always keeps his promise in giving a reward after you collect all of his spirits. Lastly, you are known for being very kind. Wisp is always friendly, even if you did just scare the spirits out of him; which shows just how kind Virgos are!

Libra

You are the wise island owl, Blathers! Like Blathers, you can talk A LOT, but that’s okay because you usually have something interesting to say! Blathers is known by all island residents as someone who is very talkative and can go on and on. The word blather actually means long winded talk, with no substance. Although, Blathers is actually very wise and shares great knowledge in his conversations. You also tend to look for the next big thing, like Blathers who gets excited about new findings on the islands and always promotes players to find more to donate to the museum. You also tend to enjoy a good book, like Blathers who is typically reading when you first enter the museum. Lastly, you take your responsibilities seriously. Blathers clearly takes the museum and cultural development of the island seriously, like a Libra would.

Scorpio

You are Redd, the sly fox and art dealer that visits the island. You are confident, and know how to talk to people. Sometimes you come off a little mysterious, maybe even a little sketchy like Redd. Once you open up a little more, you’re actually very friendly. You are pretty secretive like Redd with his fake art that his claims he’s selling to you as a good deal. Redd also doesn’t reveal much about himself, focusing mainly on what he is trying to sell. You are known for being ambitious and determined, two of your best traits. Redd is very determined to sell his art to you each time his visits the island. You also know how to use your strengths to your benefits, just like Redd! Use your strengths Scorpio, you’d make a great salesperson!

Sagittarius

You are Gulliver, the traveling seagull who often washes up on shore! Like Gulliver you love traveling and you are a free spirit. You enjoy meeting new people and seeing new places! You are also known to be humorous, like the silly seagull Gulliver who sometimes cracks jokes and mumbles funny statements in his sleep. You are also known for not being close to many people, in Gulliver’s case this could be why he’s a little unsure about his shipmates and doesn’t hear back from them for a while. You are also very generous. After helping Gulliver fix his communication device so his shipmates can pick him up, he sends a thank you letter along with a gift from one of the many places he has visited during his travels. You are the generous and kind traveler, Sagittarius.

Capricorn

You are Reese the pink alpaca! Like Capricorns, Reese enjoys tradition and family. She is deeply in love with her husband Cyrus, and their wedding anniversary photos could represent a tradition they have. The wedding furniture and the way her and Reese are dressed is also traditional for a wedding. You are known for being serious as well (maybe too serious sometimes). If you’ve done the wedding anniversary photos with Reese and Cyrus, you know she means business. If you don’t get her photos looking right, or use enough of Cyrus’ furniture she will ask you to try again and she let’s you know it’s not good enough yet. You enjoy being the center of attention, and being in the spotlight, just like Reese.

Aquarius

You are Blather’s sister, Celeste the owl! You are known for being intelligent, just like Celeste who has a great knowledge of stars and constellations! You enjoy intelligent conversations over any other. Celeste usually talks about topics she is knowledgeable about with villagers. Like Celeste, you are very original and independent. Although being known as Blather’s sister, she is her own person. You can sometimes be unpredictable, like Celeste. She isn’t on a schedule in terms of when she visits your island like many of the other characters, you never know when you might see her. You are most popularly known for being a visionary. Celeste definitely gives off a visionary vibe, making her a great Aquarius.

Pisces

You are the one and only Isabelle, the dog secretary who is extremely helpful; just like you! You are very wise and friendly like Isabelle. She is always smiling and willing to help. She is also very knowledgeable about the island and the villagers! You can be a bit overly trusting of other people, and Isabelle seems to have that trait. She hopes that everyone is good on the island & sometimes she overshares during her daily announcements. You are known as being very empathetic, probably the most empathetic of all the signs. When you go to Isabelle with a problem, she always shows empathy and is clearly very caring. You are also known for your problem solving and healing skills, like Isabelle who is the character you go to when you have a problem with another villager. Way to go problem solver!

Positive Things to Come From 2020 So Far…

Yes, I said positive. This year it has been easy for all of us to focus on the negative, especially when it’s the focus of the media. Not here though. From virtual proms to charitable giving, here is a list of positive things that have happened so far in 2020.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Came Out

The game we all quickly got addicted to was released in 2020. It’s been popular with all ages, from kids to adults. It’s been a great way to stay in touch with friends during stay at home orders as well. This fun game has brought a lot of joy during what’s been a very odd year.

#AWorldofHearts

A social media movement created to spread positivity and hope during the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve probably seen hearts in windows of businesses, homes, or maybe even on the sidewalk. People from all over have joined in to this movement and using their creativity to spread some hope and joy in their communities. If you are wanting to see creative artwork within this movement, simply search #aworldofhearts on Facebook or instagram.

Companies Started Producing PPE to Support Frontline Workers

Many companies started producing face masks, hand sanitizer, and other PPE to support frontline workers. Companies from Bauer Hockey to Love Your Melon have created and even donated PPE during this pandemic. Kylie Skin, among other companies made hand sanitizer. Products that have also been difficult for consumers to find at their local stores. Many stores quickly sold out of hand sanitizer, masks, and gloves. Many companies made their PPE and sanitizer products open to consumers to purchase.

Celebrities Hosted Virtual Prom

Many celebrities hoped on board to support the class of 2020. Proms and graduation ceremonies were canceled due to COVID-19, so the class of 2020 got unique celebrations this year. John Krasinski hosted a virtual prom, among other celebrities guests who joined him. IHeartRadio also hosted a virtual prom for 2020 seniors hosted by singer Dua Lipa.

Tiger King Memes

Even if you haven’t watched the Tiger King on Netflix, your timelines have been filled with Tiger King memes. I think we have all needed the pick me ups in 2020, and Tiger King has blessed us with some of the best quality memes in meme history. Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin have now became household names, and they have given us enough memes to apply to just about anything.

Donating at an All Time High

There have been endless causes to donate to during 2020, whether you donated to help with the Australian wildfires, donated supplies or monetary donations during COVID-19, or most recently to causes related to the murder of George Floyd or the damage to small businesses that has occurred afterwords. Many GoFund me pages reached their goal in record time, and even in some cases exceeded their goal. Countless celebrities have even joined in on the charitable giving, some of them getting creative. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis started up Quarantine Wine, 100% of the profits go to COVID-19 response charities. Many celebrities have donated to great causes during 2020, Steve Carrell is one of many celebrities who donated to bail out peaceful protesters who were arrested in Minneapolis and other cities around the United States. Many of us viewed the cast of Parks and Rec. reunite, and they raised over $2 million dollars to go to Feeding America’s COVID-19 response.

U.S. Senate Passed Law That Bans Discrimination Against LGBTQ+ Community

This is great news! It’s kind of crazy to think it took until 2020 for the Senate to pass a law like this, but this is still very great news. This law bans discrimination against any LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace. This law ensures equality in the workplace. This is some positive news we needed in 2020, and during Pride month!