If you don’t like it - Scroll

On any social media app you go on, you see a wide variety of things. We’ve got books, workouts, sexy pics, thirst traps, informative posts, music, etc. We all have different likes and dislikes. 

Social media apps have been tailored to fit our likes through the algorithms. So, if you like something, it’ll typically show you similar things. This begs the question of, when you like a spicy book picture, but you get another spicy book photo, why insert a negative comment on one and not the other?

Is it dislike of the account or potentially the person? And if that’s the case, why not just scroll past it or hit the “not interested” button?

I wish I could say it’s a simple answer, but it isn’t. 

It can be for a multitude of reasons. 

One could be that you dislike the person.

Two could be it’s not your preference of account.

Three, it could be you decided to be hateful and negative.

Four, it could be to cause drama.

All reasons that can be your own. 

But in a space such as Bookstagram, you have everything from flat lays, to reels, to thirst traps, to aesthetic style posting, to even lingerie and books, and while that is up to the account, please still remember there is a human being behind that account. 

There is enough drama in the book community. A community that has united us on reading books that lead us to escape. Who cares if a girl does a sexy pose with one? Or likes to use a suggestive reel sound?

Don’t like it? Just. Fucking. Scroll. 

No one needs the hate just because you prefer a certain account to do it over another. 

What good does it do to tear someone down?

As someone who has struggled in the past with finding my niche, it sucks to not get the likes or to get the hateful comments and messages. Yes, I’ve even gotten the “kill yourself” messages. Also, as someone who has found a little more confidence due to the companies I rep for and the empowering support I receive from them, getting that “I don’t like this” or “ugh you’re fat” or even getting that notification of “your post as been reported due to XYZ” is a hit to it. 

Why not just scroll past it if you don’t like it?

And I mean, let’s even bring it to the author side of Bookstagram. These authors pour their souls out on pages while delivering us spice and laughs too. Yes, even some tears sometimes. So, people having the audacity to leave negative comments on something they haven’t read just to say how much they won’t read it, or even how they DNFd it because it wasn’t their cup of tea to read is so tasteless. 

Let’s not forget the tagging in negative reviews. What the actual fuck? Again. Why not just scroll past it?

Now, I know what y'all are going to say. 

“I’m entitled to my own opinion!”

Yes. Yes, you fucking are. 

You are entitled to every opinion on everything under the sun. 

But why be a shitty person about it?

If it isn’t for you…

Just Fucking Scroll 

It’s very simple. 

There’s an old saying

“If you got nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

And I feel like a lot of people either missed that saying/lesson when they were younger, or have just forgotten it. 

It costs NOTHING to be a decent person and using the block button is free. Scrolling past something is so easy to do, it’s just the same finger movement you use while scrolling feeds. It isn’t anything extra. 

We are in this social media age, and even if we only get a few seconds of someone’s life that they have chosen to let us look into - you know, like a book they recommend, an outfit they like, a recipe they love, etc, that takes courage to post that photo or reel. 

And I know y’all going to be like “well, I don’t want to and don’t have to like everyone.”

OKAY, SO YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT. 

I’m not saying you have to like and support everyone…

but I’m also saying, those you don’t like - JUST SCROLL. 

And those that you do like? Like, comment, share. It could make their day. 

Let’s just get back to being decent people. There is enough hate in the world. Let’s remember that while it is easy to post a comment here and there, let’s be mindful and remember that these accounts are actual people, who have actual feelings. 

Simply - don’t be hateful. 

Let’s just read our books & enjoy our community.