When Kate Middleton visited London\u2019s Natural History Museum last week, much of the internet fixated on her hair. <\/p>\n
The Princess of Wales debuted a much lighter hue<\/a> than her usual brown locks, and there appeared to be more length and volume as well. Some royal watchers applauded the fresh change, praising its vibrancy and warmth, while others declared their distaste for the look and speculated about wigs and extensions in comment sections across the internet. <\/p>\n The response took such a nasty turn that Princess Diana\u2019s hairdresser was compelled to post a response<\/a> to the haters on Instagram, where he reminded the public of the royal\u2019s cancer treatment and recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure she would rather be away from the public arena,\u201d Sam McKnight wrote. \u201cShe has brilliantly and quietly, unselfishly represented our country, the soft power we still have as a nation. Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone. So FFS LEAVE HER ALONE. SHAME ON YOU.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t the first time the Princess of Wales \u2015 or any woman in the public eye \u2015 has been picked apart for her hair, and it won\u2019t be the last. But it exemplifies a larger pattern of our time: the tendency for ordinary people to lob mean-spirited comments toward and about public figures online. <\/p>\n HuffPost asked psychologists about this unique kind of online cruelty and the deeper dynamics of how the internet changes human behavior. Read on for a breakdown of why people feel comfortable saying such mean comments online. <\/p>\n Many of these commenters are part of \u2018the online disinhibition effect.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cPeople are more comfortable saying mean things online than in person due to a combination of factors particular to online commenting,\u201d Caitlyn Oscarson<\/a>, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost. \u201cFor one, anonymity. Often online communities are separate from our personal lives which can create a sense of distance and reduced accountability.\u201d<\/p>\n Basically, the internet allows commenters to be removed from the consequences of their actions.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen someone hides behind a screen name or avatar, the usual social pressures and cues that would stop them from lashing out in person are stripped away,\u201d said board-certified psychiatrist and \u201cPractical Optimism\u201d<\/a> author Dr. Sue Varma<\/a>. \u201cThis \u2018invisible shield\u2019 lowers inhibitions, which makes it much easier to criticize or attack a public figure like Duchess Catherine.\u201d<\/p>\n Indeed, there\u2019s even a term for this phenomenon: the online disinhibition effect.<\/p>\n \u201cOffline, if one person was to say to another \u2018You\u2019re an absolute idiot, and the world would be better off if you hadn\u2019t been born\u2019 or \u2019You should be ashamed of yourself for wearing that outfit in public,\u201d that abusive language would have a real world impact,\u201d said Kathryn \u201cNin\u201d Emery<\/a>, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks.<\/p>\n The speaker would see the hurt on the other person\u2019s face and then might even feel that hurt personally out of guilt or empathy. <\/p>\n \u201cOther people that we may know in earshot could hear us and would now view us as less safe to be around,\u201d Emery added. \u201cOnline, we don\u2019t see the other person cry or wince \u2015 we just see pixels and sentences on a screen. We may get a reply, maybe some emojis, but they can\u2019t see us and we cannot see them.\u201d<\/p>\n Furthermore, abusive behavior in online comment sections often goes unreported and might only result in a temporary ban from a particular platform at worst. <\/p>\n The negative impulse can stem from a very human place.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNegative commenting can serve as an outlet for emotional displacement,\u201d Varma said. \u201cFrustrations from daily life \u2015 such as midlife stress, work dissatisfaction or strained relationships \u2015 get channeled into online interactions. Instead of confronting the true source of their stress, people unconsciously redirect it toward an easier, more distant target.\u201d<\/p>\n In this way, a mean comment says less about the public figure and more about the commenter. Varma compared it to a mirror that reflects people\u2019s deeper insecurities, low self-esteem and need for community. <\/p>\n \u201cFamous people are an easy point of projection,\u201d said licensed therapist Natalie Moore<\/a>. \u201cIf you have negative feelings about yourself in a particular area, it\u2019s easier to point out that perceived flaw in someone else than it is to face the pain you have about recognizing it in yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Critical comments might offer a fleeting self-esteem boost, a distraction from your insecurities or a sense of superiority. <\/p>\n \u201cCelebrities represent power,\u201d Moore noted. \u201cThey have wealth, fame and influence, which the vast majority of people won\u2019t experience in their lifetime.\u201d<\/p>\n Thus, criticizing a celebrity can be a way to feel a sense of control or power over that individual.<\/p>\n \u201cTearing someone else down can also come from a need to be perfect, so they hold everyone to unattainably high standards,\u201d Emery noted.<\/p>\n She added that this kind of toxic commenting might stem from past trauma and learned behavior as well. <\/p>\n \u201cNegative commenting can also be a way to get attention from others,\u201d Oscarson said. \u201cIt can even be a bonding activity, a way to feel connected to others by being \u2018against\u2019 the public figure.\u201d<\/p>\n In this way, online criticism can satisfy a social need tied to tribalism. The more negative and judgmental comments you see, the more acceptable this behavior may seem \u2015 and the more tempted you may feel to join in on the action.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen fandoms split into \u2018teams\u2019 like Team Conrad vs. Team Jeremiah [from \u2018The Summer I Turned Pretty\u2019] in fictional debates, people gain a sense of belonging by defending their \u2018side,\u2019\u201d Varma explained. \u201cAttacking the out-group strengthens their in-group identity, giving them validation and purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n People overlook the real-world impact of their mean comments about public figures they don\u2019t know.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cCriticizing a public figure feels safer because it creates emotional distance,\u201d Varma said. \u201cPeople tell themselves, \u2018They\u2019ll never see this\u2019 or \u2018They\u2019re too powerful or famous to be hurt by my words.\u2019 Unlike criticizing a friend or colleague, where there\u2019s an immediate risk of damaging a real relationship, attacks on celebrities or royals feel inconsequential.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to forget that those famous faces are people, too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t see celebrities and other public figures living everyday life \u2015 being parents, doing their jobs, having everyday struggles \u2015 which can make them feel like characters in a movie without real emotions or inner lives,\u201d Oscarson said. \u201cCelebrities may also be seen as \u2018fair game\u2019 for criticism if they have chosen to be in the spotlight.\u201d <\/p>\n We might roll our eyes at the cheesy \u2018Stars \u2015 They\u2019re Just Like Us!\u2019 magazine spreads, but the truth is that celebrities do have real lives, real families and real feelings that can be deeply affected by the words and judgments of strangers.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one is completely impervious to criticism, no matter how often they experience it,\u201d Moore said. \u201cMost people think of celebrities as existing in a class of their own, and that they somehow don\u2019t need to be treated with dignity or respect online.\u201d<\/p>\n This phenomenon leads people to underestimate the real-world impact of their cruel commentary. <\/p>\n \u201cPublic figures do read comments, and negative online sentiment \u2015 especially when it snowballs \u2015 can affect their mental health, their family life and even public perception on a much larger scale,\u201d Varma said. \u201cThe digital distance makes it easy for people to forget there are real humans on the receiving end.\u201d<\/p>\n There are also bigger cultural implications that impact everyone. <\/p>\n \u201cWhile it may feel trivial in the moment, each negative comment contributes to a broader culture that normalizes cruelty and erodes empathy,\u201d Varma said.<\/p>\n This brings to mind the popular meme construction \u201d[Celebrity] won\u2019t see your mean tweets about [specific criticism], but your friends [who have that same characteristic] will.\u201d<\/p>\n Although the format is often exaggerated <\/a>for <\/a>humor<\/a>, the underlying message is true: Even if a celebrity doesn\u2019t see your critical comment online, others will. And it can touch on their insecurities, normalizing this kind of harmful thinking and behavior.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easy to get caught up in this type of negative commenting,\u201d Oscarson said. \u201cIf people find that they are engaging in this type of behavior, it\u2019s OK to have some self-compassion. Slow down and take a moment to understand your motivation, and think before you post.\u201d<\/p>\n 20 Years OfFreeJournalism<\/p>\n Your SupportFuelsOur Mission<\/p>\n Your SupportFuelsOur Mission<\/p>\n For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Support our mission to keep us around for the next 20 \u2014 we can’t do this without you.<\/p>\n We remain committed to providing you with the unflinching, fact-based journalism everyone deserves.<\/p>\n Thank you again for your support along the way. We\u2019re truly grateful for readers like you! 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