We Could All Be Someone’s Digital Pet

In the age of social media, where every post, like, and comment is meticulously curated and consumed, the line between self-expression and performative existence has blurred. The term “digital pet” originally referred to the experience of raising a virtual pet through electronic devices, simulating the companionship and responsibilities of caring for a real animal. However, in contemporary social media culture, this term has taken on a new and often negative connotation. It is now used to describe individuals who are observed and entertained by others online, often in a demeaning way. This usage implies a loss of agency and dignity on the part of the observed individual.

On social media platforms, people who overshare personal details or exhibit overly pleasing behavior may be mockingly referred to as “digital pets.” This sarcastic label highlights the performative nature of their online presence, suggesting they exist solely for the amusement of their audience. The term often carries a tone of ridicule or criticism, reflecting the shifting dynamics of how individuals interact and present themselves in the digital space.

However, this new interpretation of “digital pet” not only redefines the term but also raises questions about authenticity, self-worth, and the power dynamics in social media interactions. It serves as a commentary on how digital culture can strip individuals of their subjectivity, turning them into passive objects of entertainment.

I choose to discuss this topic based on my true story. I used to dislike a particular mean girl, and, in a way, she became my “digital pet.” Her social media presence was over-the-top—her photos were so heavily edited that her facial proportions looked unnatural, and her overly dramatic poses screamed of someone trying too hard to be trendy. My friends and I would privately mock her posts, laughing at how she seemed to curate her online life as if it were a glossy magazine spread. She was, to us, a source of entertainment, someone whose attempts to impress only made her an object of ridicule.

But then, one day, the tables turned. I overheard someone else mocking me. They were laughing at the travel photos I had proudly posted, calling them pretentious and saying I was just trying to show off how great my life was. It stung. Suddenly, I realized that in their eyes, I was no different from the girl I had been so quick to judge. My carefully crafted posts, which I thought would inspire admiration, had become fodder for someone else’s amusement. I had unwittingly become their “digital pet.”

That moment was a wake-up call. It made me reflect on how easy it is to objectify someone online, to strip away their humanity and reduce them to a caricature based on a few curated posts. It also forced me to confront my own behavior—how my judgment of others mirrored the very judgment I feared. Additionally, it’s also a reminder that we all have the capacity to be someone else’s “digital pet,” and that we need to approach online interactions with more empathy and self-awareness.