Social Media Without Empathy: The Hidden Cost of Digital Indifference

Today, Basket would like to address an important and difficult subject: radicalisation, emotional isolation, and the loss of empathy on social media.

These conversations are never easy to begin, but they are necessary. Sometimes, we only truly understand an issue after experiencing it ourselves.

In 2020, I was diagnosed with cancer. It was one of the hardest moments of my life. People around me knew what I was going through. They had my social media accounts, my phone number, and knew about my situation. Yet many never sent a simple message asking, “How are you doing?” or even just “Hi.”

It may seem small, but these gestures matter. They are signs of humanity and compassion.

Instead, I often felt invisible. Some people appeared more interested in protecting their image, career ambitions, or observing others from a distance rather than showing genuine care. In today’s digital world, jealousy and comparison can become toxic. Many assume that someone else has a “perfect life” without understanding the struggles hidden behind the screen.

This personal experience made me realise how easily empathy can disappear online. When people fail to show support or kindness, social media can reinforce feelings of loneliness and emotional abandonment. Research has shown that a lack of meaningful social interaction online is strongly linked to loneliness and reduced perceived social support (Machado et al., 2022).

Even a small act of kindness can make a difference in someone’s life.

I once read a story that perfectly illustrated this issue. A young man completely transformed himself for someone he loved and shared his journey online. But when he felt ignored — especially by the person he cared about most — he lost hope and eventually took his own life.

This tragic example highlights the danger of depending on social media validation or emotional recognition from others (Zhang et al., 2023). It reminded me that self-improvement should never depend entirely on external approval. Real growth comes from valuing ourselves, learning, and becoming stronger for our own well-being.

One of the simplest ways to create positive change online is through empathy. A short message to check on a friend, a supportive comment, or even a kind reaction can remind someone that they are seen and valued. These actions take only seconds, but they help build connection and reduce loneliness (Lanser & Eisenberger, 2023).

Social media platforms themselves are not inherently evil. They are simply tools. Almost every platform gives us the opportunity to communicate, reconnect, and support one another. The real question is how we choose to use them.

Many people have hundreds or even thousands of online connections, yet genuine human interaction has become increasingly rare. We share trends, opinions, and personal achievements, but how often do we sincerely ask someone if they are okay?

When people never receive support or messages of care, they can begin to feel unwanted, disliked, or forgotten. Even if these feelings are not always based in reality, prolonged silence can become emotionally damaging. In some cases, loneliness and social disconnection may even contribute to radicalisation or destructive thinking patterns (Bierwiaczonek et al., 2024).

At the same time, positive actions can have the opposite effect.

I still remember receiving an unexpected message from a former classmate simply asking how I was doing. It was a small gesture, yet it genuinely lifted my spirits. Even a quick message saying “thinking of you” can remind someone that they matter.

When we choose kindness, we actively push back against the indifference that often dominates online spaces.

Too often, people blame platforms like Meta or TikTok for the negative impact of social media. But these platforms are only tools. The deeper issue lies in human behaviour — in how people choose to use these tools, whether to support others or to spread negativity, jealousy, and emotional harm.

For me, social media has increasingly become a space where empathy is replaced by self-interest. Many users focus only on self-promotion, status, or criticism of others. In extreme cases, this environment can contribute to tragic outcomes such as depression, suicide, or radicalisation (Balt et al., 2023).

Instead of building real communities, social media sometimes amplifies emotional distance and loneliness.

This is where the real danger exists.

As Shakespeare once suggested, devils may walk among us while angels remain rare. The question we must ask ourselves is simple: are we using social media responsibly and compassionately? Or are we allowing ambition, ego, and indifference to control our online behaviour?

Thankfully, it does not have to remain this way. But for myself, I ask those questions just below and try to answer them. Answering them makes a better person and people.

Soon or later, to protect ourselves or the ones we love, it will be a must-do task. We at Basket believe that everyone has the power to create a healthier digital environment.

So here is my challenge to you: be one of the rare “angels” online. Reach out to someone you have not spoken to in a long time. Send a kind message. Check on a friend. Let someone know they matter.

Small acts of empathy can create meaningful change.

If enough people choose kindness over indifference, social media can once again become a place of genuine human connection instead of emotional isolation. And maybe our work will benefit from this extra boost of positivity, which can only be good for business and careers, too.

References

Machado, V. C., Mcilroy, D., Adamuz, F. M., Murphy, R., & Palmer-Conn, S. (2022). The associations of use of social network sites with perceived social support and loneliness. Current Psychology, 42. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02673-9

Zhang, C., Tang, L., & Liu, Z. (2023). How social media usage affects psychological and subjective well-being: testing a moderated mediation model. BMC Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01311-2

Lanser, I., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2023). Prosocial behavior reliably reduces loneliness: An investigation across two studies. Emotion, 23(6), 1781–1790. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001179

Bierwiaczonek, K., Fluit, S., van Soest, T., Hornsey, M. J., & Kunst, J. R. (2024). Loneliness trajectories over three decades are associated with conspiracist worldviews in midlife. Nature Communications, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47113-x

Balt, E., Mérelle, S., Robinson, J., Popma, A., Creemers, D., van den Brand, I., van Bergen, D., Rasing, S., Mulder, W., & Gilissen, R. (2023). Social media use of adolescents who died by suicide: lessons from a psychological autopsy study. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00597-9