As someone who hasn’t had power for days and is on constant alert for an evacuation since I live up in the hills, I am disgusted by those who have been constantly making jokes about the wildfires that have spread throughout Los Angeles County since Tuesday.
While people are protecting their loved ones and homes, begging for help, trying to salvage what is left of their homes, or trying to fit fractions of their memories into bags, other people on social media are choosing to laugh at the fact that our city is turning to ashes. It is unsettling to see others make light of others’ suffering.
Fires around L.A. that started on Tuesday have continued to grow, and as they grow, social media has shown how insensitive people can be during troubling times.
There are four major fires that surround L.A. and slowly engulf the San Fernando Valley. These fires are known as the Kenneth fire in West Hills and Calabasas, the Palisades fire in Pacific Palisades and Topanga Canyon, the Eaton fire in Altadena and Pasadena and the Hurst fire in Sylmar. These fires have caused 10 confirmed deaths and burned over 20,000 acres of land.
Despite the destruction and fatalities, people on social media have named those who they want harmed by the fires, celebrating school cancellations, desire for fires to reach people they dislike, and hope for the safety of specific celebrities people admire. When I posted that people on social media need to be more sensitive, I received a few responses minimizing that, too.
“Thought I’d burn in hell but turns out it’ll be (the) Palisades fire ahah,” one user said, replying to me.
These jokes disregard the thousands affected by the fires and show the ignorance and ferocity of our generation.
Generation Z has become extremely desensitized by social media. TikTok Videos, Instagram Reels as well as memes have caused this to happen. When the fires started so did the memes and the trends.
Social media creators started making theories about the fires linking them to the Bible with some even saying God is punishing California residents for their sins. While conspiracy theorists continue to comment on the fires around L.A., social media viewers are focusing on God the Father coming, rather than helping others with the current situation at hand.
While looking for the light in these trying times is important, sometimes jokes can be seen as insensitive, when in reality you’re just trying to relieve the tension. Saying you’re staying optimistic through hard times is good, but people should remain aware of how what they say can affect victims of the fire. If people want to help elevate others, they should redirect their energy to helping those in need rather than joking on the internet.
Instead of making these cold-hearted remarks, people should use their platforms to comfort others, whether it’s helping others seek asylum or offering resources.
