Hate-following: Here’s why you can’t unfollow people you dislike on social media

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer, so the popular adage goes. Most people live this truth on social media. Unlike in real life where you have zero control over who you bump into on the streets, with a few clicks, you can determine who you see on social media. But many users keep following people they can barely stand.

Are you hate-following?

Maybe hate is a strong word to use to describe how you feel towards that wannabe-influencer classmate of yours. You don’t necessarily hate them, but seeing their posts evoke some strong emotions in you.

You might even take a screenshot of said post and share it with your best friend who joins you in ridiculing them. You hardly engage with their content because, well, you find them ridiculously pretentious, but you don’t unfriend/unfollow them either.

Social psychologists like Erin Vogel, have some theories to explain these virtual love-hate relationships.

If somebody’s posts are really annoying, and we feel we’re not that way, then hate-following them can make us feel we’re doing better than they are.

Who doesn’t relish a good ‘well, I’m not like them’ feeling?

Curious much?

Sometimes, it is difficult to cut these people off on social media because you have a relationship with them outside social media. You could also be keeping them in your online space because you secretly envy them, or out of sheer curiosity.

Pamela Rutledge, PhD, a professor in media psychology at Fielding Graduate University, explained:

We may be curious about what makes them popular with others, because understanding what motivates those around us helps us survive in a social world.

Whatever your reasons might be, hate-following can be harmful to your mental health. The signs may be subtle, but if you find yourself constantly getting upset about certain posts, or you feel drained after your time on there, you may want to do a deep-clean of your online community.

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