Is it just me, or have we stumbled into a silent World War 3? This war is not fought with guns or tanks, but with words, likes, and shares. The battleground being Facebook, where everyone seems to be part of some family, the name inspired by the influencer. These groups rally behind their influencers, joining in their battles, and often, their feuds.

In this chaotic arena, obscenities fly around like arrows. The hatred is evident in the comments and posts. It seems like we have forgotten that there is a real person on the other side of the screen.

In order to satisfy the seemingly growing insatiable thirst for gossip and controversy in humanity, many of these influencers seem to be using this as an opportunity to gain more followers. Drama drives engagement, and in the world of Facebook, engagement is king. The more heated the battle, the more followers they attract, feeding a vicious cycle of negativity and conflict.

I recently heard Kerry-Ann Ratidzo Moyo speak at her graduation from the University of Richmond. She talked about Ubuntu, the African philosophy that means, “I am because we are.” Her speech made me realize just how far we have drifted from this idea in our digital lives. We do not see each other as part of a whole anymore. Instead, we see factions, enemies, rivals. Our screens, these gateways to the world, have turned into mirrors reflecting our worst behaviors. Hidden behind anonymity, we say things we would never dare say face-to-face. We forget that every profile picture is a real person with feelings and dignity.

Words have power, and we often use them recklessly. We have become like gladiators in an invisible arena, fighting for likes, shares, and the thrill of being right. What do we really gain from all this? More division, more bitterness, and a greater loss of our shared humanity.

If there is a voice to speak, I choose to let mine be heard. It is time to step back from this digital Armageddon. It does not have to be our destiny. We need to remember Ubuntu and start seeing each other again. We need to transform these platforms from battlefields into places where real connections can still happen.

Someone once said, “The internet does not forget.” Every post, every comment, every heated exchange is forever imprinted on the digital ether, a permanent record of our moments of anger and division. Are you being a force for good or bad?