People often say that students are the future. This may be true, but it doesn’t mean they are immune to the effects of smart shaming. Smart shaming is when someone puts you down publicly, often on social media, for expressing or giving them the correct information. It implies that you are stupid, trying hard, or even naïve. You may not have even done anything wrong other than correcting a misleading statement, but suddenly you are made out to be the bad guy.
The negative behaviors created by being smart-shamed can create real problems for your fellow students and yourself. Regardless if smart-shaming phrases are said sarcastically or as a joke, their harmful effects on students cannot be overlooked. A study by Cantonjos (2019) found that smart-shamed students experience adverse effects on their self-esteem, including decreased self-confidence and heightened insecurity about their knowledge and abilities. A typical scenario would be when a student hears a snide, smart-shaming comment after answering a teacher’s question in class. These comments can silently hurt the student’s feelings and their overall well-being. It can also affect their performance academically as they might refrain from being as participative as before.
A better, kinder world involves encouraging intelligence, not mocking it.
Smart shaming can take place in online spaces as well. While social media can be an excellent place to share ideas and celebrate accomplishments, it can also be a breeding ground for smart shaming. Being smart-shamed online can leave victims feeling angry, embarrassed, and discouraged. For merely correcting someone’s spelling mistake or pointing out grammatically incorrect words, some students have received vicious verbal attacks and insults from their classmates. These attacks leave the victim feeling ashamed and embarrassed. As a result, they become reluctant to express their opinions in class and even avoid participating in group activities at school.
The toll this phenomenon takes on victims’ mental health cannot be understated. It can make them question their abilities and believe they are stupid since other students think they are silly. This type of self-doubt can lead to anxiety and depression, affecting their performance in school and causing long-term mental problems.
This is why educating ourselves and others about the harmful effects of smart shaming is essential. Rather than fostering an open and inclusive environment, it can lead to an environment in which people feel inadequate. It hinders growth and innovation, which in turn prevents people from reaching their full potential. A better, kinder world involves encouraging intelligence, not mocking it.
