Scrolling through social media, one may come across content that doesn’t resonate with their personal experiences or circumstances. However, some individuals take it a step further by expressing anger or helplessness towards the creators, expecting them to cater to their specific needs.
The “Bean Soup Theory”
This phenomenon has been dubbed the “bean soup theory” after a TikTok creator, Kara, shared a vegan bean soup recipe to boost her iron levels during her menstrual period. Some commenters asked about substitutions for the beans, prompting the question: why didn’t they just look for a different recipe?
According to Dr. Jessica Maddox, an associate professor of entertainment and media studies at the University of Georgia, this behavior is partly caused by the combination of American individualism and personalized social media algorithms. People are used to having content tailored to their interests and may feel irrationally angry when it doesn’t meet their expectations.
Experts Weigh In
Mental health counselor and content creator Micheline Maalouf notes that people shouldn’t stop at their own experiences and should try to understand the creator’s intention. Comedian and writer Temilola Adeoye attributes this behavior to shortcomings in intellect and literacy, or a desire to have one’s intellect validated by others.
The Covid-19 pandemic has also contributed to this phenomenon, with people feeling unseen and helpless. Some individuals may be using social media to cope with their feelings of exclusion and lack of control.
It’s essential to remember that not everything online has to apply to you. If a piece of content doesn’t resonate with your personal experiences, it’s okay to move on and find something that does.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
