Early in 2026, someone took to a TikTok comment section to comedically discuss their relationship status. In response, one comment asked, “did the journal factory explode?”
The reply may seem harsh, but this phenomenon happens enough to warrant this reaction. More often than not, you leave a comment section knowing way more about a stranger on the internet than you need to.
This TikTok comment has since become a meme on social media, but it still holds valid concerns about oversharing online. When did the internet become everyone’s diary, and why are we being forced to read it?
These comments aren’t entirely unprompted. They usually appear under videos that are already personal, such as debriefs of personal conflicts or relationship details.
Notably, these kinds of videos create the platform commenters need. Social media creators put everything online because that’s what their fans demand. But just like their comments, these kinds of videos are usually better kept a secret.
Storytimes have been a popular form of content since the rise of YouTube, but the conversational nature of the videos creates an undue feeling of security. Posters tend to forget that their videos can reach millions of people worldwide.
Many of these videos end up going viral, and these personal stories are screenshotted, saved, and commented on until something else comes along.
Oversharing isn’t only limited to what people post; it extends to how people interact with it. The comments under some of these videos can get way too personal and sometimes entirely unrelated to the original post.
Observers find themselves wondering how a video about somebody’s family dinner resulted in a commenter sharing every detail about their family history. It’s possible that they’re doing this simply for attention, validation, or pity from people they don’t know. Social media isn’t the right platform, but maybe a journal is.
Of course it’s important not to keep things bottled up. Sharing your stories and experiences can be extremely helpful. In general, social media can help people find community and feel less alone, but a stranger’s comment section shouldn’t be the place for it.
For influencers who want to be authentic online, it’s okay to establish boundaries. They’d never share their home address or their phone numbers online. Maybe they need to keep those same walls up when it comes to their deeply personal anecdotes.
Occasionally, it’s okay to be messy and emotional online, but ask yourself if this is something you’d want shared outside your immediate circle.
Social media can be a place for honesty, vulnerability, and connection without it becoming a forum for every passing thought. There’s nothing wrong with having something personal to say. Sometimes, those stories can provide people with genuine feedback and help form real connections.
However, think twice before hitting post. There is something refreshing about writing down your thoughts without the pressure of views and comments.
The journal factory hasn’t exploded yet, and it’s time we start putting it to use.
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