While the internet is a bottomless pit of weirdness, it’s also an endless source of information. But instead of spending time soaking in interesting knowledge, thousands of people seem to find entertainment in watching the bizarre. The internet culture database Know Your Meme explained that "Thanks, I Hate It" is a slang phrase people use to describe posts they deem unattractive or superfluous. The origin of the phrase is unclear, but its usage saw a spike in the fall of 2017 on Reddit and Tumblr.
Then, in 2019, the r/TIHI subreddit was launched to serve as an archive for unsettling posts and provide space for unreasonably uncomfortable viewing experiences, keeping the meme alive. As the founder of the online group, Markus, told Mashable, "The initial idea came from another moderator of ours (u/scrumbly) on another post on r/ATBGE ['Awful Taste But Great Execution'] three months ago. He posted a comment linking to this sub and as it didn't exist yet, I decided to make it a thing," Markus said. "I wanted to create a place for all the beautiful posts that are both likable and hateable at the same time. But I wasn't all that serious about it, as all subs I managed before were very small as well."
The phenomenon of seeking things we dislike or even utterly hate is a baffling one. To learn more about our interest in unsettling things online, we reached out to Dr. Paul Reilly, senior lecturer in communications, media and democracy in the School of Social & Political Sciences at the University of Glasgow.
"Despite moral panics about people being trapped in online echo chambers, key features of platforms like Twitter are accidental or incidental exposure to things we don’t like or disagree with," the professor told Bored Panda. "Their algorithms often amplify such content in order to encourage social media users to interact with their sites. Every click, like, share or comment is effectively profitable for these companies."
Whether we like it or not, we’re exposed to unpleasant content every single day. Stumbling upon unattractive posts makes most people feel a sense of frustration, as constantly finding themselves at the center of the weirder side of the internet is exhausting. However, some find entertainment in the things they hate. "A minority of people do appear to take pleasure from the act of commenting on things they hate," Dr. Reilly added. "I think this speaks to the affective dimensions of these platforms."
"Even those users who express a desire for greater civility on social media take the opportunity to express negative opinions. However, I don't think hate-watching is as widespread as it is often claimed in the media."
So let us offer you a warm welcome to the Hate Age. Fed by seemingly endless content we find online, thousands of low-quality shows to watch, and the snide and throat-cutting contest that social media has become, people now regularly revel and find delight in analyzing the awful things they spot. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, hate-watching is an act of looking at certain things and taking pleasure in laughing at or criticizing them. It can be a disliked TV show, movie, or, as you can see in this list, extremely bizarre pictures and posts people find on the internet.
When asked why we seem interested in consuming content we hate, communication expert Dr. Reilly explained we often go online to air our frustrations. After all, there’s a social aspect to hate-watching. People usually find someone to have a heated discussion with, or they can enjoy reading mean tweets and posts from like-minded individuals. "We turn to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube not only for entertainment but also for release. There’s often nothing more satisfying than venting anger, letting off steam and interacting with those with whom we disagree."
However, the professor explained that our tendency to find hate-watching enjoyable is also linked to social comparison and notions of self-esteem. "Arguing with fans of a television show you can’t stand can give some people a sense of superiority and affirmation of their identity," he added.
So we hate-watch because we find pleasure in being smug and holier than thou in our tastes. We feel more value in ourselves by believing we are better than this, and we also think that if something was done poorly, we certainly would have made it look way better. Moreover, building our self-confidence by judging others is one reason we hate-follow people on social media.
"Hate-following is deciding to follow someone on social media, even though you know you disagree with what they say, or think they are a terrible person," Jennifer Beckett, a communications lecturer at the University of Melbourne, told ABC Everyday. "It can actually push up your adrenal levels, you get that 'How dare they!' sensation which can lead to a bit of an endorphin rush."
