Everyone has an interest that they would never think of sharing with someone they are not completely comfortable with. Some examples may be witchcraft or music in a different language or even Shawn Mendes and Camilla Cabello. They are often called “guilty pleasures” to make it seem as if one is better than what their interests may depict them as. Although one’s interests are not who they are as a person, society has made it seem that way for decades now and with the rise of social media, it has only worsened over the years. People are negatively viewed because of what they like and it forms a type of stereotype around them. 

Social media has only brought about platforms in which others can judge each other for unknown or usually ridiculous reasons. Twitter is one app that immediately comes to mind as it is one of the most destructive environments when it comes to just about anything related to the internet. Twitter and other social media are well known for housing different communities of people who have similar interests. It is beneficial for those who are labeled as weird to find others who may have the same hobbies or likes, and for the most part, everyone has stayed within their communities. However, as of late, there have been specific interests that are targeted due to the overwhelming popularity some of them have gained. 

One interest that has gained an enormous amount of backlash is K-pop and Korean music as well as the interest in the culture as a whole. Korean pop music has gained an immense amount of popularity in America over the past few years, and it has allowed many Americans to learn a little bit about the culture as well; however, those who enjoy the music have been getting a lot of hate recently. Not necessarily from companies or other music industries, but more so from peers and others who do not completely understand what K-pop actually is. Often people are too embarrassed to admit or show anyone that they are interested in this type of music, and it is primarily due to the stigma that has been built around it. This applies to any other interest that a majority of society has deemed unusual. 

Another example that is a bit older than the one mentioned before, is the hate that Justin Bieber fans endured in the early 2000s. Being someone who did not like him meant that they were more cool than those who did, and eventually that caught on. While social media was not as prevalent then, if anyone had any interest in him, they would often hide it to the public. This was more of a case in which others wanted to seem better than the majority by belittling a popular artist rather than not understanding the interest. 

Often times when an interest is ridiculed, it is usually due to some sort of unreliable opinion that society has conjured because of a few differences that others may find unusual. This opinion spreads and this interest is now shunned amongst most. This trend happens often and is not unusual in the slightest. While this is a common process of thought, for the most part, it is unfair. To judge someone for something they really find joy in just creates this barrier between two people that could possibly be best friends. Interests do not define a person the same way as their personality does. Hopefully, in the near future, this trend won’t be as popular as it is now, but do not think the absolute disappearance of it will ever happen. Judging people by their first words and/or looks is something that has been ingrained in society for a long time now, and is not going anywhere for awhile, but as human beings, the ability to be more open to new interests, opinions, and experiences is not impossible.