There are mornings when I wake up with the weight of the world pressing on my mind—not because of the dogs waiting to be saved, not because of the constant stream of need that animal rescue always brings, but because of the world outside of it. Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about something that keeps popping up on social media, especially TikTok, and it unsettles me deeply.

It’s this growing trend where young adults are “exposing” people they find on dating apps, recording videos about it, and hoping they go viral. And they do. But what’s often left behind in the rubble is the aftermath—the collateral damage that none of these kids are remotely prepared for.

I’ve seen daughters outing their own fathers online, exposing them as married men looking for hookups. The videos hit millions of views, and suddenly the whole family is shattered. Can you imagine being the mom in this story? Do you first hear about your husband’s betrayal from strangers sending you a viral link? Or does a friend, trembling, sit you down and say, “You need to see this. It’s going to hurt.” And then, not only do you have to live through your marriage imploding, but you also watch your own daughter cash in on your pain, posting video after video because the clicks, the likes, the money keep coming. Yesterday you had a family. Today, you’re a headline.

And who’s left to blame? The husband, of course. He should take responsibility. But what about the daughter? Is it wrong for the mom to feel anger toward her too? I don’t think so. Imagine how twisted it must feel to have your child profit off your heartbreak, parading it in front of millions.

Another story I saw involved a young woman who discovered her married professor on a dating app. Instead of handling it privately, she crafted an entire classroom presentation on morality, ending with a giant reveal of his profile. She filmed it, of course. She basked in the applause and later boasted online that she earned an “A” from the man she publicly humiliated. The smugness was impossible to miss.

And here’s what I keep asking myself: is this what’s normal now? Has social media trained some kids to think cruelty is clever? That the most valuable currency is not kindness, but attention—no matter the cost? The comment sections are full of cheering voices, applauding destruction like it’s a sport.

But I wonder—what about the long game? Companies already scour social media when hiring. Maybe these kids aren’t applying for those jobs yet, but they will someday. And when that time comes, will they regret it? Will they think, “Dang, I shouldn’t have done that”? Or will they still be so blinded by the thrill of virality that they never pause to reflect?

In my world, in animal rescue, I can tell you this: I would never want people like that in our circle. Rescue work already has its fair share of unkindness and division. I’ve seen folks argue bitterly over state lines, over who “deserves” to live, and it’s heartbreaking enough. The last thing rescue needs is more drama, more people hungry for spectacle rather than solutions.

So I’ll keep reminding myself of what really matters. Dogs in need. Kindness in action. A community built not on clicks, but on compassion. I’m grateful you’re here, walking this road with me.

Let’s save some dogs today. Let’s rescue on. 🐾