>>717722730I honestly think it's all social media's fault, particularly it getting mainstream popular and omnipresent after smartphones became ubiquitous. People like to bring up the "tatemae" and "honne" concept to make fun of Japan and other Asian countries for being collectivist and obsessed with saving face, but it's really a wordwide concept. Even in places that are considered more individualistic and "casual" like America, people still naturally act different depending on who they're interacting with and will avoid saying things if they think it will cause social problems to say it to who they're talking to. It feels like social media has caused millions of people to feel like they're constantly in such social situations at all times, and must always have their public face up 24/7, always on the watch for what the current acceptable viewpoints and things to say are, not willing to say how they truly feel even in semi-private conversation for fear that will get them socially rejected by all of society, even to the point that they stop even knowing what their own beliefs are anymore because all their energy is being put into just following along with what they think everyone else thinks.
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