Why are Indian Youth So Rude on Social Media?

Whenever I scroll through social media, I observe many Indian youth being rude.

It is hard to post even a single comment. The moment you share an opinion, some youth disguised as self-proclaimed defenders of religion, government, a societal issue, or a celebrity would come and start posting aggressive comments.

Sometimes they become so abusive and troll you to their hearts’ content. In some cases, they become worse and threaten you.

Many Indian youth know the art of converting a simple online discussion into full-blown fights. They don’t have an idea about how to debate an issue politely and without losing their temper.

Many times I have tried to have a healthy discussion online but it results in people becoming defensive and hurling offensive comments towards me. Then I know, it is time to leave the comment section for good. It takes time and energy to keep debating and letting them understand anything. These trollers are already biased people and misinformed to the core.

Whenever I remember the recent incident where a 16-year-old youth from Gujarat issued a rape threat to cricketer MS Dhon’s 5-year-old daughter in a video on social media, my blood curdles. It shows how insensitive and insane some youth behave in today’s time.

So, why do the Indian youth behave so aggressively online? Let’s explore it.

1. The “Anonymous Warrior” Syndrome

On social media, you can wear a mask. That’s why you can notice many youths disguising themselves with different names and not showing their actual photos.

Behind a screen, Indian youth feel powerful. They can become anonymous and no one can see them, judge them, or punch them for being rude. This false sense of security makes youth say things they would never say in real life.

Think about it. Would any of these youth walk up to a stranger and yell at them for having a different opinion? Probably not. But on social media, such things are easy for them. They can throw insults or drop hate comments without worrying at all. And that’s not all, they can keep trolling someone until the other person doesn’t block them.

Indian youth know that they can act rudely or aggressively online because they don’t have to face any immediate, real-world consequences for their actions.

Indian youth forget that on social media, they don’t control themselves. “Like”, “Comment”, and “Retweet” buttons control them. These buttons reward emotional and extreme responses more than thoughtful and measured discussions.

So when the youth of India see a heated argument, they may be tempted to jump in and unleash their frustration. And being anonymous, they feel more power as there are no real consequences.

What Can Indian Youth Do Instead?

Before writing an aggressive comment, Indian youth should pause and ask themselves—would I say this to their face? If the answer is no, maybe it’s time to rethink before they type.

Why always attack? Can’t they try to discuss and understand different perspectives? Spread awareness and kindness rather than hate.

2. Stress, Frustration, and Venting Online

One of the main reasons Indian youth behave rudely online is because life in India is stressful.

They are overloaded with study, tuition, and schoolwork. They face college pressure. Some are busy in job hunting but not great results. Then there are family expectations and comments from relatives or neighbors. Like:

“Aaj kal kya kar rahe ho beta?” (What are you doing nowadays beta?)

“Kitne marks aaye is baar?” (How many marks did you get this time?)

“Koi job lagi abi tak?” (Have you got any job yet?)

“Beta, shaadi kab kar rahe ho?” (When are you getting married?)

Then many of the youth take out their frustrations online.

If they feel stressed, they should talk it out with someone who can listen and help them. What is the point of getting triggered by random posts and lashing out at strangers?

Moreover, Indian youth forget that social media is a fast-paced medium. There is no time for the youth to reflect or process emotions properly. See a post, react, like, share, or comment, and then move on.

As soon as they get triggered by a post that annoys them, they start lashing out in the comments without considering how their words may affect others.

What Can Indian Youth Do Instead?

Indian youth need to understand that there are no benefits in using social media as a stress reliever in a harmful way. Instead of attacking people online, they can try healthier outlets. Like, talking to a friend, exercising, or staying away from social media for a while.

Use social media wisely. It should be a place to connect, not a battleground for venting personal frustrations.

3. Herd Mentality: Join the Mob or Get Attacked

As soon as Indian youth see a viral tweet or post where someone is getting trolled, the youth of India jump in.

Who cares about checking the facts? As everyone else is doing the same, it must be right. Let’s follow the trend, like it, and retweet it. And if this is not sufficient, let’s make some nasty comments.

This “mob mentality” is dangerous.

One wrong tweet, one misunderstood joke, and boom—someone’s mental health is destroyed. Remember how people trolled actress Rhea Chakraborty mercilessly after Sushant Singh Rajput’s death? Just based on assumptions and judgement? Similarly, comedian Vir Das got hate for his monologue about India.

Misinformation and propaganda spread fast on social media. Youth attack first and think later (or never).

What Can Indian Youth Do Instead?

Indian youth should learn to think critically before engaging. Don’t react just because a post is viral. Verify information before joining a discussion or attack.

They should be accountable for what they share. If they really want to contribute to the conversation, they should debate wisely and not add more negativity.

Further, youth should support someone who is being trolled unfairly. Stand up against online bullying instead of silently watching it happen. They should understand that mob mentality hurts real people as they also feel emotions just like them.

4. No One Teaches Indian Youth Digital Etiquette

Since childhood, our parents, teachers, or elders have been teaching us to talk politely to guests and respect elders. They have taught us to behave well in public. But when it comes to social media, there are no formal guidelines. No school in India is educating “How to be a decent human online”.

The result? Youth have taken the internet for granted and say whatever they want, no matter how harmful.

In real life, we observe people’s facial expressions and tone of voice that help us to understand each other. However, communication on social media lacks such cues. Due to this misunderstandings happen between people. And they fight unnecessarily.

Moreover, social media rewards only one thing—engagement. And it has nothing to do with “kindness”. Social media loves extreme human emotions like anger, humor, or shock. Hence, posts that can evoke such emotions get more visibility.

This is the reason Indian youth are enticed to post something controversial, offensive, or shocking content to get more likes and shares. They know they can get away due to a lack of real consequences.

What’s The Solution?

Just as we are taught social etiquette in the real world, there is a need for Indian youth to learn digital etiquette. There should be a short course in Schools and colleges. Parents can teach their children about kindness and polite behavior at home. And even social media influencers should actively promote online kindness.

Further, online platforms should also take responsibility by encouraging constructive discussions rather than fueling negativity.

5. Political & Religious Divides Are Fueling Hate

Politics and religion are sensitive topics in India. The internet has made it worse.

So, whenever a post or tweet related to politics or religion comes, Indian youth are quick to pick sides and start attacking anyone who disagrees. It is hard to find a rational debate. They just throw abuses, threats, and fake news at each other.

People are quick to label each other as “anti-national,” “bhakt,” or “liberal elite” based on a single opinion. That’s what political leaders and religional leaders want. The “Us vs. them” mentality, where youth are not ready to listen to different perspectives. They will instead react with aggression.

Many social media accounts, including political influencers and troll pages, fuel this hatred by spreading fake news and biased stories. You can observe it many times that youth share inflammatory posts without verifying their authenticity. It leads to widespread misinformation and further division.

Religious disputes are no different. A small misunderstanding can spiral into communal hate. It is further fueled by youth posting provocative content and misleading headlines.

The result? Indian from different backgrounds end up engaging in online fights that create unnecessary animosity in real life too.

What Can Indian Youth Do Instead?

Indian youth should take responsibility and accountability to always fact-check news before sharing, especially if it seems extreme or designed to provoke anger.

If youth really want to discuss politics or religion online, they should do it with an open mind. Engaging in conversations matters, not rudeness or fights.

Further, they must not follow or engage with accounts that spread misinformation or manipulate opinions for personal or political gain.

Indian youth should think long-term. Political and religious debates online often cause unnecessary stress and hostility. They should ask themselves, “Will this fight even matter in a few years?” If not, it’s better to step away.

6. The Meme Culture Effect

Memes are fun, but not every time. Sometimes, they go too far. Dark humor, body-shaming, and offensive jokes are passed off as “just memes.” But humor should never come at the cost of bullying someone.

I am fine if Indian youth use memes to express their ideas, satire, or humor. But they must know when they cross the line. Social media is filled with memes that are openly targeting others.

If youth don’t like someone’s appearance, they create a meme for it. If they don’t like someone’s beliefs or religious faith, they create disgusting memes for it. Some celebrity has posted an opinion or a cricketer has underperformed in a match, they create degrading memes for it. That’s not entertainment, that’s harassment.

Take the Urfi Javed case—she wears bold outfits. In her posts or tweets, youths call her names and attack her character. Would they say the same things to her on the face in real life? Probably not. So why do it online?

Without realizing it, many Indian youth contribute to cyberbullying by sharing or engaging with such memes.

Further, many youths are not aware of how bad memes can be sometimes. They can become desensitized to real issues if they keep consuming more memes. Don’t expect awareness from memes, they spread misinformation and give more power to toxic stereotypes.

What Can Indian Youth Do Instead?

Indian youth should call out harmful humor. If youths see memes that promote bullying or social discrimination, they shouldn’t ignore them. Speak up or educate others about their impact.

If a meme could hurt someone or spread hate, it’s better for youth not to share it.

Memes don’t have to be cruel to be funny. It’s pure laziness and a selfish nature to get more likes and shares. Instead encourage humor that’s intelligent, creative, and inclusive rather than mean-spirited.

Youth should put themselves in the shoes of a meme’s victim. Would they feel good if the meme was about them or someone from their family?

They should support those who are being bullied due to meme culture. Because each small act of kindness can go a long way in countering negativity.