WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.067 --> 00:00:02.100
Do you ever catch yourself
saying something online

2
00:00:02.100 --> 00:00:04.434
that you probably
wouldn't say in real life?

3
00:00:04.434 --> 00:00:06.133
I'm looking at you,
internet trolls.

4
00:00:06.133 --> 00:00:07.534
Got something bad to say to me?

5
00:00:07.534 --> 00:00:08.934
Come at me, bro, come on.

6
00:00:08.934 --> 00:00:10.467
I'm just kidding.

7
00:00:10.467 --> 00:00:11.467
We don't get trolls
on our videos.

8
00:00:11.467 --> 00:00:13.400
Y'all are all great.

9
00:00:13.400 --> 00:00:14.834
But you know what
I'm talking about, right?

10
00:00:14.834 --> 00:00:17.701
Like, for example, my name
is Myles with a Y, Bess,

11
00:00:17.701 --> 00:00:18.868
B-E-S-S.

12
00:00:18.868 --> 00:00:20.434
And I got into a
little altercation with a guy

13
00:00:20.434 --> 00:00:23.868
because his name was
Miles with an I, B-E-S-T.

14
00:00:23.868 --> 00:00:26.801
So I was talking trash.

15
00:00:26.801 --> 00:00:28.834
I just kept tweeting him, like,
"There can only be one.

16
00:00:28.834 --> 00:00:30.467
I'm better than you.
Get off Twitter!"

17
00:00:30.467 --> 00:00:32.934
Now, I was the aggressor
in the whole situation.

18
00:00:32.934 --> 00:00:34.167
I probably wouldn't have done it

19
00:00:34.167 --> 00:00:35.601
if I had to see him
face to face.

20
00:00:35.601 --> 00:00:37.267
But I was online,

21
00:00:37.267 --> 00:00:40.133
and I felt protected
by the Internet.

22
00:00:40.133 --> 00:00:42.667
# #

23
00:00:42.667 --> 00:00:45.000
I think we've all seen
how online conversations

24
00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.100
can quickly take
a turn for the worst.

25
00:00:47.100 --> 00:00:50.767
Just look at any time a woman
posts anything on social media.

26
00:00:50.767 --> 00:00:53.100
There's always somebody
commenting about how she looks

27
00:00:53.100 --> 00:00:54.801
or how she's doing something
wrong.

28
00:00:54.801 --> 00:00:56.901
Just ask my friend Julia
from "Two Cents,"

29
00:00:56.901 --> 00:00:59.534
a personal finance show
on YouTube.

30
00:00:59.534 --> 00:01:02.467
You're so right, Myles,
I had the very unique experience

31
00:01:02.467 --> 00:01:05.834
of becoming pregnant,
visibly so,

32
00:01:05.834 --> 00:01:08.834
and having the baby
while I had a YouTube channel.

33
00:01:08.834 --> 00:01:10.300
And while I was talking about,
like,

34
00:01:10.300 --> 00:01:11.868
important things about money

35
00:01:11.868 --> 00:01:13.267
and trying to teach,

36
00:01:13.267 --> 00:01:15.133
so many of the comments
were focused

37
00:01:15.133 --> 00:01:18.434
on my ever-changing body.

38
00:01:18.434 --> 00:01:19.901
It kind of feels
like it's super-easy

39
00:01:19.901 --> 00:01:21.667
to be mean to each other online.

40
00:01:21.667 --> 00:01:25.033
So today we're asking, "Is
the internet making us mean?"

41
00:01:25.033 --> 00:01:26.467
So it's a real thing.

42
00:01:26.467 --> 00:01:28.467
The internet really can make
people act differently online

43
00:01:28.467 --> 00:01:29.767
than they do face to face.

44
00:01:29.767 --> 00:01:33.100
Researchers call this
the Online Disinhibition Effect.

45
00:01:33.100 --> 00:01:34.934
You know that little inner voice
in the back of your head

46
00:01:34.934 --> 00:01:37.200
that tells you something
might be a bad idea?

47
00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.701
Well, the internet can kind of
shut that voice up.

48
00:01:39.701 --> 00:01:41.300
You might end up saying
or doing something mean

49
00:01:41.300 --> 00:01:42.534
that you'll regret later,

50
00:01:42.534 --> 00:01:44.801
or sharing something
that's a little TMI.

51
00:01:44.801 --> 00:01:48.367
But online, this disinhibition
effect isn't always a bad thing.

52
00:01:48.367 --> 00:01:49.567
Plot twist.

53
00:01:49.567 --> 00:01:50.834
Sometimes good things can come

54
00:01:50.834 --> 00:01:52.267
from the disinhibition effect.

55
00:01:52.267 --> 00:01:55.434
Like when someone might open up
about something private online

56
00:01:55.434 --> 00:01:57.367
and get some
much-needed support.

57
00:01:57.367 --> 00:01:58.834
Let me break it down for you.

58
00:01:58.834 --> 00:02:01.434
Back in 2004,
psychologist John Suler

59
00:02:01.434 --> 00:02:03.534
published a paper
outlining this phenomenon,

60
00:02:03.534 --> 00:02:05.534
and this paper's kind of
a big deal.

61
00:02:05.534 --> 00:02:07.634
It's been cited
over 3,000 times.

62
00:02:07.634 --> 00:02:09.901
That means it's shown up
in a bunch of other research.

63
00:02:09.901 --> 00:02:12.501
In the paper, there's
two types of disinhibition:

64
00:02:12.501 --> 00:02:14.534
toxic disinhibition,
where you have a tendency

65
00:02:14.534 --> 00:02:16.234
to act meaner
than you would in real life,

66
00:02:16.234 --> 00:02:18.000
making the internet
a hostile place.

67
00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:19.934
But there's also
benign disinhibition,

68
00:02:19.934 --> 00:02:21.801
where people can open up
and share

69
00:02:21.801 --> 00:02:23.100
more than they normally would,

70
00:02:23.100 --> 00:02:25.634
which can create
a positive online experience.

71
00:02:25.634 --> 00:02:27.534
So why do we act differently
online?

72
00:02:27.534 --> 00:02:28.667
Well, if you think about it,

73
00:02:28.667 --> 00:02:30.200
there's a lot
about chatting online

74
00:02:30.200 --> 00:02:32.234
that's pretty different
than talking in person.

75
00:02:32.234 --> 00:02:34.000
And it's these differences
that can lead us

76
00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:36.133
to do things online
that we normally wouldn't do.

77
00:02:36.133 --> 00:02:37.601
In the paper,

78
00:02:37.601 --> 00:02:39.901
there's about six main things
about online communication

79
00:02:39.901 --> 00:02:41.267
that lower disinhibition,

80
00:02:41.267 --> 00:02:43.534
but for this video,
we'll focus on the big three:

81
00:02:43.534 --> 00:02:44.701
one, anonymity;

82
00:02:44.701 --> 00:02:46.133
two, lag time;

83
00:02:46.133 --> 00:02:48.701
and three,
lack of nonverbal cues.

84
00:02:48.701 --> 00:02:51.033
Okay, first,
let's discuss anonymity,

85
00:02:51.033 --> 00:02:52.934
which, by the way, is
one of the hardest words to say

86
00:02:52.934 --> 00:02:53.934
in the English language.

87
00:02:53.934 --> 00:02:54.934
(stammering)

88
00:02:54.934 --> 00:02:56.167
Never mind.

89
00:02:56.167 --> 00:02:57.901
A lot of time
we're communicating online,

90
00:02:57.901 --> 00:02:59.267
we're anonymous,

91
00:02:59.267 --> 00:03:01.667
which means other users
don't know who we really are.

92
00:03:01.667 --> 00:03:04.300
This is especially true
on forums or anonymous apps.

93
00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:06.934
And this lack of accountability
can make us feel free

94
00:03:06.934 --> 00:03:08.501
to do or say whatever.

95
00:03:08.501 --> 00:03:10.234
We're less worried
about real-life consequences

96
00:03:10.234 --> 00:03:11.734
because no one knows who we are.

97
00:03:11.734 --> 00:03:13.868
So you might just be
saying stuff all willy-nilly,

98
00:03:13.868 --> 00:03:16.868
but on the other hand, you could
open up about personal stuff

99
00:03:16.868 --> 00:03:18.534
that's bothering you.

100
00:03:18.534 --> 00:03:20.033
Next up is lag time.

101
00:03:20.033 --> 00:03:22.300
When we're communicating online
and on social media,

102
00:03:22.300 --> 00:03:24.300
it doesn't always happen
in real time.

103
00:03:24.300 --> 00:03:25.968
There's often a delay
between when we post something

104
00:03:25.968 --> 00:03:27.033
and when we get a response.

105
00:03:27.033 --> 00:03:28.868
And this lag time
can lead us to say

106
00:03:28.868 --> 00:03:30.267
more impulsive stuff.

107
00:03:30.267 --> 00:03:32.567
We can just post something
and bounce,

108
00:03:32.567 --> 00:03:35.334
and not really worry
about the consequences.

109
00:03:38.601 --> 00:03:41.133
But on the flip side, this delay
can also give us more time

110
00:03:41.133 --> 00:03:45.234
to pause and think about
how we respond to something.

111
00:03:45.234 --> 00:03:46.701
Finally, let's talk

112
00:03:46.701 --> 00:03:49.033
about how there's a lack of
nonverbal cues online,

113
00:03:49.033 --> 00:03:51.000
so even if you know
who someone is online,

114
00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:52.434
you can't always read
their body language,

115
00:03:52.434 --> 00:03:54.067
facial expressions, or tone,

116
00:03:54.067 --> 00:03:56.000
which gives you
super-valuable information

117
00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:57.234
on how they may be feeling.

118
00:03:57.234 --> 00:03:58.767
Without these cues
to respond to,

119
00:03:58.767 --> 00:04:00.367
you might not
self-censor as much.

120
00:04:00.367 --> 00:04:02.300
Like, if you're
talking to someone face to face

121
00:04:02.300 --> 00:04:04.400
and you can read
that they're unhappy or bored

122
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:05.634
or indifferent
to what you're saying,

123
00:04:05.634 --> 00:04:07.300
you might choose to shut up.

124
00:04:07.300 --> 00:04:08.734
But online,
you don't have those cues,

125
00:04:08.734 --> 00:04:10.801
so you'll probably
just keep going.

126
00:04:10.801 --> 00:04:14.100
Side note, this is exactly
why we need a sarcasm font.

127
00:04:14.100 --> 00:04:16.667
It's gotten me in trouble
way too much.

128
00:04:16.667 --> 00:04:18.667
Okay, so all that
can help explain

129
00:04:18.667 --> 00:04:20.634
why we act differently online.

130
00:04:20.634 --> 00:04:22.868
And like I said before,
sometimes that's a good thing,

131
00:04:22.868 --> 00:04:24.133
and sometimes it's bad.

132
00:04:24.133 --> 00:04:25.300
This kind of freedom
can create

133
00:04:25.300 --> 00:04:27.033
really supportive environments
online.

134
00:04:27.033 --> 00:04:28.267
It can be helpful
if you're young

135
00:04:28.267 --> 00:04:29.267
and trying to figure out
your identity.

136
00:04:29.267 --> 00:04:30.467
Like, take, for example,

137
00:04:30.467 --> 00:04:31.934
someone who's thinking
about coming out.

138
00:04:31.934 --> 00:04:33.033
They can find support
in hearing

139
00:04:33.033 --> 00:04:34.267
about other people's journeys,

140
00:04:34.267 --> 00:04:35.868
and they can post
and ask questions

141
00:04:35.868 --> 00:04:38.701
that they may otherwise not feel
comfortable asking in person.

142
00:04:38.701 --> 00:04:40.033
And there's research
to back this up.

143
00:04:40.033 --> 00:04:41.634
There's a positive association

144
00:04:41.634 --> 00:04:42.934
between online forums

145
00:04:42.934 --> 00:04:45.334
and well-being of people
in marginalized groups.

146
00:04:45.334 --> 00:04:48.133
Online communities can also help
people deal with problems

147
00:04:48.133 --> 00:04:49.234
they might be too shy
or embarrassed

148
00:04:49.234 --> 00:04:50.467
to talk about in person,

149
00:04:50.467 --> 00:04:52.367
like if you're grappling
with a health problem

150
00:04:52.367 --> 00:04:53.767
or a relationship concern

151
00:04:53.767 --> 00:04:55.601
or a variety
of other sensitive issues.

152
00:04:55.601 --> 00:04:57.133
And these types
of meaningful connections

153
00:04:57.133 --> 00:04:58.767
can be a really good thing.

154
00:04:58.767 --> 00:05:00.934
Like, really good--
really good.

155
00:05:00.934 --> 00:05:03.767
And benefits of online forums
can extend into the real world.

156
00:05:03.767 --> 00:05:05.501
People can feel empowered
to rally

157
00:05:05.501 --> 00:05:07.167
and organize behind causes.

158
00:05:07.167 --> 00:05:08.567
But the flip side of all this

159
00:05:08.567 --> 00:05:09.868
is that people are also inclined
to act out.

160
00:05:09.868 --> 00:05:11.767
So it's not surprising
that recent surveys

161
00:05:11.767 --> 00:05:13.434
have found that 40% of adults

162
00:05:13.434 --> 00:05:14.968
have experienced harassment
online

163
00:05:14.968 --> 00:05:17.367
and 66% have witnessed it.

164
00:05:17.367 --> 00:05:20.467
And 59% of teens have been
harassed or cyberbullied.

165
00:05:20.467 --> 00:05:22.400
Not cool, people--
just be nice.

166
00:05:22.400 --> 00:05:25.367
Of course, it's not all
the Online Disinhibition Effect

167
00:05:25.367 --> 00:05:27.667
that makes us act
a certain way online.

168
00:05:27.667 --> 00:05:28.801
Other things,
like your personality

169
00:05:28.801 --> 00:05:30.033
and your life experiences,

170
00:05:30.033 --> 00:05:31.467
definitely influence
how you act.

171
00:05:31.467 --> 00:05:32.634
Researchers have even found

172
00:05:32.634 --> 00:05:34.400
that there are certain
online conditions

173
00:05:34.400 --> 00:05:36.367
that can provoke people
into trolling.

174
00:05:36.367 --> 00:05:37.968
If you want to learn
more about that,

175
00:05:37.968 --> 00:05:39.934
check out our video
on internet trolls.

176
00:05:39.934 --> 00:05:41.968
You know I love
a shameless plug.

177
00:05:41.968 --> 00:05:43.901
So for better or worse,

178
00:05:43.901 --> 00:05:46.133
the internet really can
make you act differently

179
00:05:46.133 --> 00:05:48.133
than you would face to face.

180
00:05:48.133 --> 00:05:50.501
So as always, I'm your host,
Myles Bess.

181
00:05:50.501 --> 00:05:53.400
Now, I shared
when I was mean to Miles Best.

182
00:05:53.400 --> 00:05:54.434
But now I want to know,

183
00:05:54.434 --> 00:05:55.667
have you ever acted differently
online

184
00:05:55.667 --> 00:05:56.834
than you would in person?

185
00:05:56.834 --> 00:05:58.801
Tell us about it
in the comments below.

186
00:05:58.801 --> 00:05:59.968
Feeling inspired
to learn more

187
00:05:59.968 --> 00:06:01.767
about how technology
affects you?

188
00:06:01.767 --> 00:06:03.734
Be sure to check out
our video that asks,

189
00:06:03.734 --> 00:06:06.133
"When is the right age
to start using social media?"

190
00:06:06.133 --> 00:06:08.267
I also want to give a shout-out
to Common Sense Education,

191
00:06:08.267 --> 00:06:09.534
who we collabbed with
on this video.

192
00:06:09.534 --> 00:06:10.968
If you're a teacher,

193
00:06:10.968 --> 00:06:12.868
be sure to check out their
Digital Citizenship Curriculum

194
00:06:12.868 --> 00:06:14.200
in the description below.

195
00:06:14.200 --> 00:06:15.300
Thanks, guys,
you're awesome.

196
00:06:15.300 --> 00:06:16.701
Till next time, peace out.