Social Media Comments & Negativity
Social media has revolutionized how we connect with others—often for the better, bridging distances between friends and families. But this same connectivity has also created space for cyberbullying, negativity, and unfiltered criticism, especially on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and YouTube.
When the Comments Hurt
If you’re already struggling with anxiety or depression, even a single mean comment can feel crushing. It may trigger emotional pain or even anger. But reacting impulsively, especially with aggression or retaliation, rarely works in your favor. In fact, it can escalate the situation and potentially damage your online reputation.
Step 1: Pause and Stay Calm
The first rule of thumb? Don’t respond in anger. Take a breath.
“Anyone can report what you post—regardless of who started the conflict.”
That’s why it’s critical to respond wisely, or not at all. Acting on emotion might only validate the negative person’s claims or put your own character in question.
Step 2: Be Mindful of Your Words
If you choose to respond, craft your words carefully. Social media is public, and once something is posted—it’s out there. Forever.
Ask yourself:
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Will this make things better?
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Could my comment escalate the situation?
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Am I giving this person more power than they deserve?
Step 3: Recognize the Trolls
Yes, trolls exist—people who post inflammatory or cruel comments just to provoke a reaction.
“There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
In many cases, the best response is no response at all. Don’t feed the trolls. They thrive on your attention.
Step 4: Don’t Let It Sink In
While hurtful comments sting, they often say more about the commenter than you. People who are hurting tend to lash out. Don’t carry their baggage.
If your content was unintentionally offensive or misunderstood, take the high road:
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Apologize if needed.
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Clarify your intent respectfully.
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Move forward.
Step 5: Know When to Report
If someone has crossed a line—insulted your appearance, attacked your character, or posted abusive content—report the behavior immediately. Every platform has tools for:
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Blocking users
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Reporting harassment
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Hiding or filtering offensive comments
Taking action protects not only your peace of mind but also others in the community.
Step 6: Expect Criticism, Prepare Emotionally
Remember, everyone on social media is a publisher now—and opinions are everywhere. Not everyone will like or agree with your content. That’s okay.
Prepare emotionally every time you share: there might be critics, but there’s also your tribe, your supporters, and those who need your voice.
Final Thought
Social media can be both a megaphone and a minefield. How you respond to negativity—with poise, restraint, and integrity—says more about you than the comment ever will.
If the hate becomes too much, log off, take a break, and reconnect with your real-life support system. Your peace is more important than any post.
Great tips. We all get them and I just brush them off. Sad people have to act like that, though.
Great tips! Always keep your cool!!
This is great advice Patrice! I have been the victim of social media bashing before, and trolls, but thankfully like what you’ve mentioned in your post you learn to take things with a grain of salt and like you said sometimes trolls feed off of your reaction and its best to simply not respond and move on realizing their intent is to hurt. These are important things to to teach our struggling teenagers too.
Heather, Learning to just ignore and don’t take what these trolls saying personally takes time.
I haven’t really received negative feedback but I refuse to let anyone pull m out of who I am. So I would have to wait and reply with grace.
I just ignore bad comments and delete them. That person is just looking for a fight.
If someone says something that is unnecessary, I just delete it. I have had to reply to some people and it’s tough. Thanks for sharing these tips.
Great tips! Those trolls can be very discouraging!
The art of Bullying has changed over the years, but it still hurts.
These are very good tips. I’ll be sharing them with the kiddos at my school.
I know it takes time for people to learn how to ignore things like that. Human nature. This is a great post though on how.
Great tips.. Social media is very useful but also could be dangerous.
These are excellent tips for dealing with negativity of any kind. Unfortunately, Social Media allows people to hid behind their own insecurities while lashing out at others. Thank you for sharing these tips. If all else fails, we can just ignore the negative person and keep it moving!
These are great tips. I hate receiving negative or bad comments but i’m teaching myself to ignore them. they just looking for a fight
Great information. It is always better to choose the high road.
Social media really has it’s perks as well as it’s disadvantages. It’s difficult to deal with cyber bullying, but it’s better to just ignore the comments and stay quiet.
ElizabethO, Ignoring is better I think so too if its minor.
These are great tips. I am sure everyone of us had this experience with negative comments. I just ignore them. Sometimes it is my friends who go after the offender. Haha.
It’s so easy to react to someone’s negativity. These are great tips for handling a negative comment.
Bullies come in all shapes and sizes. They are very present in social media especially where they have the “benefit” of some amount of anonymity. There words can be hurtful and I have had my fair share. My remedy is to always go back to myself – what I know is true of me and unshakeable. I then respond from that place. I have been “abused: because my response to abuse have been polite. Go figure.
Claudette, thanks for your advice.
These are some awesome tips! I normally ignore pity and nonsense comments. Just don’t judge me personally.
Negative can really have an impact! Chug on.. it means you are popular
Dana Vento, I have to remember this one thanks for your support.
So true, great tips on how to handle those negative people out in the world!
I think it’s really important not to engage them in more negativity. That won’t help diffuse the situation at all!
These are great tips. Staying calm is the key. Don’t let the emotions win and react on impulse.
I have been blessed to only get about 2 since I have been on line in the past 5 years and both of them I ignored. Great tips
Wonderful tips! Rule #1—NEVER fly off the handle :).
Hahahahahahahhaha….The other day a gentleman commented that there was an error in my about page….It was not the fact that he said it but that he took almost half a page to say it. I just said thank you and went to look for the error and fixed it. The fact is he could have just sent me a message instead of putting it in the comments section but I am not removing it….It is still there and I still smile each time I see it
Good tips! Never react. It just gives the person more reason to keep doing it.
As well, if you are online and you are constantly bullied, yes you can report it to whoever, but why not protect yourself 100% and just close your accounts and walk away from it all. Why put yourself through any online bullying. And if you really feel the need to be connecting with “friends” online, setup a new account and only give it to those that are most important to you.
Great tips! Staying calm is key. Even though people’s words may hurt, some comment are just not worth the response.
Great tips… Staying calm and handle it wisely is so important
These are great tips that we all can apply. I haven’t experienced negative comments yet but I have seen them on someone else’s social media page and it was not pretty. I agree 100% to not react with negative words. Kill them with kindness.
Great tip, you always have to keep cool and calm.
Or I can cuss them out LOL I am kidding. I find it best to block them and delete their comments especially if its nasty and uncalled for.
There are some real hurtful people on social media, and they want nothing more than to cause trouble. But these tips are really on point and so needed. Being on social media has definitely helped me to grow a thicker skin lol
Excellent post we always have to remain professional even when you are being attacked because you are the bigger person.
Glad you like thanks Ana De Jesus.
I always try to take a deep breath and walk away for a minute before responding – that way I can keep my cool and maintain a level head!