Social media creates a community of people worldwide, but just like in the real world, some people make it an unwelcoming environment. The ability to hide behind a screen gives people the confidence to comment on things they would never say, and the idea of becoming famous one day sends people into a craze to make their name known, no matter the cost. Tess Gunty explores the everyday toxicity behind the screen in her novel The Rabbit Hutch. Through her book, Gunty adds moments to discuss further the harmful nature of being able to hide online and the thirst for fame in our society.
The first place readers see social media in the book is at the online obituary service, Restinpeace.com, where Joan works. Her job is to remove harmful comments online trolls leave about the deceased. “ ‘You would be surprised,’ she often tells people, ‘by how cruel people can be to the dead’ ” (Gunty, 39). Gunty uses this quote to illustrate the safety people often feel about saying hurtful things online rather than in person. Her point is further emphasized by the fact that people are saying harmful things about the dead, who can not stand up for themselves. It is such a common problem that they have a job that must exist to ensure that family members and grievers going to the website for comfort do not have to read hurtful comments about their loved ones. The ability to hide behind a username is not the only harm of social media. It can be just as dangerous to want to be seen and known as your username.
One of the characters in the book, Malik, wants to be famous and believes he will be. He happens to film his friend, Todd, stabbing their roommate, Blandine, and his first instinct is to post it on YouTube. While Blandien is bleeding, “Malik grinned at his phone. A grin I’ve never seen before. A face you’d carve into a pumpkin” (Gunty, 377). Instead of feeling scared, he is happy about what happened. He knows it will make him famous, which excites him. In today’s culture, some people will do anything to get their name known, even if that means harming someone else, just as Malik shows.
It is nearly impossible to avoid the online society our world has created. Even if you can circumvent the network, there is no way to escape the effect on humanity. While the harmful nature is discussed often, Gunty adds to the discussion with her book. She helps to create a picture of how dangerous social media can be for those who may not understand the harm. Gunty uses her voice to aid the conversation of the dark places behind the screen.
I absolutely agree with your take on Gunty's portrayal of social media. One other instance that could relate to your claim is Moses's interaction with "Mr. Boddy" over email. While this isn't a direct social media interaction, it supports your claim that operating behind a screen allows others to adopt a "harmful nature." Mr. Boddy sends an incredibly in depth message to Moses in the Game of Clue chapter, clearly in distress and begging for help stating that "nobody else will reply to me, so I am hoping that you will extend your psychiatric expertise to my strange case" (Gunty 245). After reading the entirety of the message, instead of helping, or replying, instead "with two clicks, he deletes Mr. Boddy's message" (261). If outside of an electronic interface, few people could offer zero help or reassurance. But, over email, Moses seemingly feels zero remorse at not assisting a struggling peer.
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