OPINION: Homophobia is still prevalent online
On one fine day, while navigating the cesspool of Instagram Reels, I stumbled upon a reel of a rather cute guy. Naturally, I commented “cute” on that post expressing my opinion about the reel. The comment section is something that I often avoid when interacting with social media but whenever I do use it, I rarely face any ridicule. What followed my comment was something surprising in an age where we champion diversity and inclusivity in public spaces. I faced homophobic replies that were not only directed toward me but also toward the user of the Instagram account that posted the reel. It was a bit hurtful, but I thought of this instant as an object of inquiry.