For millions of viewers online, internet trends appear and disappear within days. For Australian dancer Smac, those moments have become a creative language translated through movement, choreography and physical comedy.

The 33-year-old performer has built a following of around one million on Instagram by turning online obsessions into dance pieces. Her work has included interpretations of viral animals, emojis and unusual internet videos, including clips of objects being destroyed by hydraulic presses.

Known for her multi-genre approach to dance, Smac has appeared on television competitions and worked as a choreographer for the online video game Fortnite. Her performances often recreate digital moments through exaggerated physical movements, transforming short-lived online trends into visual performances.

A typical day for Smac begins away from the spotlight, with her two pet rabbits acting as an early alarm. She said the animals freely move around her home and wake her by jumping onto her bed and interacting with her in the morning.

After feeding them, she checks her emails and returns to sleep if there are no urgent matters requiring attention.

Smac said her routine reflects the flexibility of working independently. Unlike a traditional job with fixed hours, her schedule changes depending on creative projects, rehearsals and online content.

She does not usually eat a formal breakfast and prefers to snack throughout the day. She said she enjoys having simple foods available at home and often prepares tea in the morning, describing English breakfast tea with milk and sugar as a personal favourite.

Her workday often involves several different creative roles. On one day, she had a meeting related to choreography for Fortnite before attending rehearsals for a one-person performance in Absinthe by Spiegelworld, a circus production in Las Vegas.

In that role, she contributes beyond movement, giving input on areas such as lighting, costumes and music.

Much of her professional life is managed through her phone. She films, edits, communicates and publishes content using digital tools, with spare moments often spent reshaping existing footage for new posts.

Social media is not only a platform for her career but also a source of inspiration. While many creators attempt to reduce their online time, Smac said she enjoys staying connected and following trends because they influence her creative ideas.

Outside work, she is preparing for her wedding and spending time on home projects with her partner. She described preferring a simple wedding dress with a classic design rather than an elaborate style.

She and her partner, who also works from home, share an interest in interior design and often spend time improving their living space. Craft activities and television comedies are part of their regular evenings.

Her approach to content creation remains largely spontaneous. Smac said many of her videos begin with a quick idea that she immediately records and uploads rather than developing through a long production process.

That unpredictability has become part of her creative identity. A concept may appear at any time, including late at night, and become a finished performance within hours.

Her evenings are also shaped by a late-night schedule. She and her partner often eat dinner late, sometimes around 9pm, and she prefers eating smaller portions over several hours rather than one large meal.

She described herself as a night owl, often staying awake until the early hours before sleeping. Her rabbits, however, return her to an early morning routine, waking her again around 7am.

The combination of digital culture, dance and everyday life has turned Smac’s online presence into an example of how creators now build careers by responding directly to the fast-moving world of internet trends.

While it’s easy to feel demoralized by online negativity, it’s crucial to understand the roots of such behavior.

In the age of social media, the line between private thoughts and public outrage has virtually disappeared. No matter what you post—whether it’s a simple photo of biryani, a motivational quote, or a well-researched opinion on politics—there’s always a dark corner of the internet ready to unleash its fury. Abuse, personal attacks, slurs against parents, women, and even religious identity have become disturbingly common. But why?

While it’s important to acknowledge and appreciate the silent majority that supports, likes, and quietly agrees, the human mind is naturally drawn to negativity. Ten supportive comments get overshadowed by one hateful reply. That single insult lingers in the mind long after praise is forgotten.

Based on years of observation and digital engagement, I’ve found five key types of individuals who fuel this online negativity:

1. The Mischievous Type – Born Troublemakers

These are the perennial troublemakers—the ones who, since childhood, found joy in irritating others. They’ve grown up provoking siblings, neighbours, teachers, and now, with the rise of social media, they’ve found a much larger playground.

They are the digital equivalent of Jinn—restless, unpredictable, and fueled by the discomfort of others. For them, leaving a sarcastic or negative comment is not just a habit—it’s a source of satisfaction. If they don’t mock or provoke someone online, their day feels incomplete. Even a harmless food photo can become their target.

Negativity is their diet, and trolling is their exercise. They exist not to contribute, but to disrupt—and without it, they simply cannot function.

2. The Low Comprehension Crowd

These are individuals who, regardless of how clearly something is stated, will twist it into something entirely different. You write “Moosa,” they read “Eesa.” You mention Coca-Cola, and they accuse you of promoting alcohol. You appreciate India’s development, and they brand you a bootlicker of Modi. Their thinking is clouded by bias, insecurity, and an almost compulsive urge to misrepresent.

This group suffers from what can only be described as a mental habit of distortion. They don’t engage with the actual words—they engage with what they want to believe was said. They are, in many ways, a constant source of tension not just online, but within their own homes. Family members, especially women, often struggle to communicate with them or find peace around them due to their combative and suspicious nature.

Ironically, this mindset is not limited to the uneducated. Many of these individuals hold degrees and possess formal literacy, yet lack the emotional intelligence and clarity of thought needed to engage constructively. Their education becomes a tool for more sophisticated forms of twisting and arguing, not for understanding.

Among all online personalities, these are perhaps the most dangerous—not because they are aggressive, but because they distort reality and spread confusion with a tone of misplaced confidence.

3. The Hasty and Half-Informed

These are the individuals who lack the patience to fully engage with content before reacting. They won’t watch a video till the end, nor will they read an article in its entirety. Driven by impulse and the rush of instant opinion, they leap straight to the comment section with criticism—often without understanding the context.

When confronted, a simple question usually exposes them: “Did you read the full article?” or “Did you watch the entire video?” More often than not, the answer is silence or deflection.

Their engagement is superficial—limited to a headline, a thumbnail, or a few seconds of a clip. From that limited input, they form sweeping judgments, start arguments, and even preach. Nuance is lost on them. In their world, quick opinions matter more than thoughtful reflection.

This culture of half-reading and knee-jerk reactions is one of the major drivers of online negativity. It fosters misunderstanding, fuels outrage, and buries meaningful discourse under a flood of misplaced criticism.

4. The ‘Holier-Than-Thou’ Crowd

One of the most troubling sources of online hostility stems from individuals who believe only their religious interpretation leads to salvation. Everyone else, in their view, is misguided or doomed. This mindset doesn’t arise overnight—it is the result of years of indoctrination, taught as piety but rooted in arrogance and fear.

Across all faiths, this pattern is visible. Many are raised to view those outside their religion—or even within it, from other sects—with contempt. Sectarianism thrives when marriages are invalidated, prayers dismissed, and communities divided, all in the name of doctrinal purity.

This obsession with the “only true path” isn’t unique. Christian denominations clash, Muslim sects argue over legitimacy, and divisions exist among Hindus, Jews, and others. Such rigidity drains religion of compassion and turns it into a badge of moral superiority.

Ironically, the more outwardly religious some become, the less tolerant they are of differing views. True religiosity should nurture empathy and humility—not arrogance. But when faith becomes a weapon of superiority, dissent is not debated—it’s demonized.

Online, this manifests as trolling. Differing opinions are seen not as opportunities for dialogue, but as threats. So, instead of reflection, there’s rebuke. Instead of empathy, there’s accusation.

This self-righteousness, masked as devotion, poisons discourse and drives hate. Unless religious communities begin promoting humility over hostility, the toxic cycle will worsen—alienating believers, silencing seekers, and turning faith into a battleground instead of a refuge.

5. The Unfulfilled and Frustrated

These are individuals who once aspired to achieve something meaningful beyond their routine jobs—but life didn’t go as planned. In childhood, their talents were overlooked. As they grew older, they found little encouragement from family or peers. Their dreams were dismissed, their ideas mocked, and their confidence eroded.

Today, even in their own homes, they feel powerless—some can’t switch to their preferred TV channel without fearing backlash from a domineering spouse. This accumulated frustration, suppressed over the years, finds an outlet in the digital world.

When they see someone doing something different, creative, or impactful—something they once dreamed of—they feel triggered. At first, they cloak their bitterness in the language of advice or religious “Islah”, offering unsolicited critiques under the guise of concern. But when their advice is ignored or rejected, the mask slips. What follows is a barrage of insults, curses, and hostility.

Their negativity is less about you—and more about their unresolved disappointment with themselves. Social media becomes their venting ground, not for ideas, but for grievances.

Should We Take Them Seriously?

While it’s easy to feel demoralized by online negativity, it’s crucial to understand the roots of such behavior. The silent majority is still there—supportive, kind, and observant. But as content creators or opinion sharers, we must develop thicker skin and sharper filters. Every negative comment is not a reflection of you—it often reveals more about the person writing it.

Let us focus on building meaningful content, engaging with thoughtful readers, and remembering that even in the noisy world of social media, silence often speaks volumes.