Gen Z and Trigger Warnings
It’s very clear how ironic trigger warnings have become. From tagging them to extreme subjects like suicide to commenting “put a trigger warning!” on posts of girls being confident in themselves.
Let’s talk about this.
Firstly trigger warning, specifically means “are warnings that a work contains writing, images, or concepts that may be distressing to some people.” Now how come the most basic things are starting to catch the attention of young teenagers and offending them? I think very well that the issue is very simple. Putting others responsible for their feeling and discomfort. When it comes to simpler things, like weight, or somebody doing a Mukbang on TikTok or advertising a razor product, content like that has been starting to upset people. Mind you that, these things have never had been an issue.
As a Gen Z myself on TikTok, I come across many videos of skinny girls wearing revealing outfits. However, the comment section is something that appalls me the most. “I guess I shouldn't eat today,” “at least put a trigger warning,” “oh great now I feel like shit.” I’m very well aware that body image problems are something surfacing among younger teens these days. But what they are not aware of is the fact that nobody is actually responsible for their feelings. As harsh as that sounds, it's very well the truth. You can’t act impulsively and type out words to a post that was supposed to be harmless.
If people had to be aware of every single person's problem, trauma and experience then EVERY single content would need some type of trigger-warning. People need to understand that this is just the world we live in, and we have to accept that and accept the fact that our problems only matter to us. Though a sensitive topic, when it comes to self-harm objects like scissors and razors could be alarming. However, you as the observer as responsible for clicking away on something that could trigger. Coming across a video of somebody advertising a razor, the advertiser clearly said “I’m going to be showing the razor up ahead.” Now who in their right mind who is triggered by this would continue to watch the video? You know this is clearly about razors. So if you continue on to watch it but then comment “put a trigger warning,” then I'm sorry but that's partly your fault.
The point is we live in a society that as humans, we are bound to come across things that will upset, hurt, and trigger us. It’s completely unavoidable unless you disclose yourself off from society. Therefore, learn to accept that not everybody should be thinking about tiny details. Be responsible for yourself. You cant expect a girl just eating food to put a trigger warning for eating disorders, or someone swimming to put a trigger warning “water ahead,” cuz there have been 3,536 fatal drownings. Of course, the person with the drowning experience is traumatized. However water will always be somewhere 24/7, and as individuals, you can't expect every person saying or doing something water-related to put a trigger warning.
Gen Z I am seriously asking you to step up your game and stop being so sensitive about things people just cannot control. We have problems, everybody has problems and nothing is ever unavoidable. As terrible as it sounds, we can't expect everybody to look out for us.
