By Safra Liyana Sukiman and Dr Nurizah Md Ngadiran

In the glittering digital world where everyone has a voice and a platform, social media has become both a stage and a battlefield.

On one side, there are the likers – those who applaud your every move, sprinkle heart emojis under your selfies and cheer you on like the loyal audience of a rising star.

However, on the other side, there are the haters – the keyboard warriors, masked by anonymity, who toss negativity like confetti at a parade. So how does one navigate this swirling mix of adoration and criticism without losing their shine or sanity?

Embrace the echo, but don’t depend on it

Likers are the sweet part of social media experience. They boost your confidence, validate your creativity and sometimes even help you go viral. But here is the catch: their likes should never be your oxygen.

Appreciate the love, respond with gratitude, but always remember that your worth is not defined by hearts, shares or comments. You are more than your highlight reel.

Sip the haterade with caution

Haters are often loud, sometimes cruel and occasionally revealing. Hidden in the venom of their comments might be a whisper of truth or just plain jealousy dressed in sarcasm.

Either way, do not react, respond. And sometimes, the best response is silence. Classy silence. Because not everyone throwing stones deserves your energy or a reply.

Use criticism as a mirror, not a map

Some criticism is not hate; it is feedback wearing an ugly jacket. Learn to distinguish between these two. If a comment stings, ask yourself: is it constructive or destructive? If it is constructive, learn. If it is destructive, delete, block and bloom.

Build your boundaries like a castle

Not every follower deserves a front-row seat in your life. Curate your circle. Use privacy settings. It is not about being rude – it is about being protective towards your mental peace. And no, blocking someone is not petty. It is power.

Be real, stay grounded

Authenticity is the real currency of influence. People connect with people, not perfection. Share your highs, but do not hide your struggles. It creates balance and gives both likers and haters a fuller picture of the human behind the screen.

Find joy offline

It is easy to forget there is a whole world beyond the scroll. Spend time with real people, touch the grass or hear the unfiltered laughter by a mic.

That is where true validation lives, not in a double tap, but in a heartfelt hug or genuine smile.

In conclusion, likers will lift you. Haters will test you. But you? You get to define yourself. Let the applause encourage you, let the criticism refine you, but never let either consume you.

In the ever-scrolling landscape of social media, your voice is your compass. Speak with purpose, post with passion and walk the digital streets like the queen or king. You are unshaken, unbothered and unapologetically yourself.

-- BERNAMA

Safra Liyana Sukiman is with the Centre for Language Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.

Dr Nurizah Md Ngadiran is with the Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA.