Trigger warning: this chapter contains graphic hate speech.

The Comments Section

I reflect on my years working on YouTube at the height of the platform’s most chaotic era, when anonymity, scale, and engagement collided to create a culture where cruelty was not only normalized, but rewarded. What began as a tool for community quickly became something darker: a digital space where distance eroded empathy, accountability dissolved, and harm could be delivered without consequence.

We explore the psychological roots of bullying, why fear and group dynamics have always driven people to “other” one another, and how the internet amplified ancient human behaviors by removing friction, limits, and endpoints. From mobs and masks to modern moderation, this episode looks at why removing individuals or filtering words doesn’t solve systemic problems. This is a chapter about visibility, vulnerability, and what happens when connection is mediated through distance

Topics Covered"

The psychology of online bullying

Anonymity and accountability on the internet

The history of mobs, masks, and collective cruelty

Why comment sections feel different from face-to-face interaction

Engagement culture and the monetization of outrage

Internet moderation, censorship, and unintended consequences

Growing up online vs logging off

Why cruelty thrives at scale

Listener Note

This episode is part of an ongoing series examining internet culture, attention, and what it means to live inside always-on systems. Later episodes will explore engagement incentives, algorithms, and why opting out isn’t as simple as it sounds.

Written and recorded by Rebecca Felgate in Calgary Alberta

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rebeccafelgate.substack.com