first of all… i would like to say thank you guys for speaking out in behalf of me.
yes i am the black guy who was affected by this banner. although i’m not the target audience, the fact that they would advertise a literal black women’s advocacy campaign for mental health by putting something like “being lonely in a digital world” and expecting only black women to respond.
it was super disheartening to see this banner. i’ve been struggling with depression and anxiety due to online bullying since around the beginning of 2020 and it has been getting worse from dec 2021.
seeing a banner that resonates with me was something i’ve never thought i’d ever see in my life. i finally thought that i was not alone, that there were people who were also feeling the same as me whilst being online. i didn’t even know that it was a real thing until i saw that banner.
that’s why it’s super damaging and why i wanted to speak out. thanks to my friend @jonghyuns-husband i had came out of my shell to finally talk about my side and how it could be damaging for me as a black man, as someone who doesn’t fit the criteria but related to that banner alone.
clickbait may seem like harmless fun, but it can really damage people. i thought there was hope for me, until i realised that it was too good to be true. i never thought i would ever find someone who would understand me and find a group of friends who feels exactly the same way.
i often feel like a loser for going online and not enjoying it like my siblings or cousins. everyone seems to be having fun — but me. i thought i was overthinking for a second, until i’ve met asahi. he felt exactly like me and knows how i feel. i’ve even found someone with online social anxiety like me, who is too afraid of being ghosted after a fine conversation.
yes the banner is racist, but i just want people to hear me and to be heard. i’m sick and tired of suffering in silence. if i’m getting shadowbanned, please make sure to reblog so i could reach more people.
thank you for all my friends that stuck up for me. you guys are the best. i love you all.
