{"id":36712,"date":"2026-03-16T18:54:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=36712"},"modified":"2026-03-16T18:54:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:54:36","slug":"does-singapore-have-a-hater-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=36712","title":{"rendered":"Does Singapore have a hater culture?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\"><a class=\"_externalLinks_wioo3_126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/tag\/her-terms-only\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><i><u>Her Terms Only<\/u><\/i><\/a><i>\u00a0is Her World\u2019s no-filter column that dives straight into the minds (and mouths) of women \u2014 and occasionally men \u2014 across generations to share unfiltered takes on the topics we\u2019re often told not to talk about. From unpacking internalised sexism to confronting cultural taboos, this crowd-sourced series doesn\u2019t tiptoe around the truth. It calls it out, flips the script, and challenges patriarchal norms and outdated gender roles in a uniquely Singaporean fashion. <\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">When local actor-singer <a class=\"_externalLinks_wioo3_126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/life\/every-time-glenn-yong-went-shirtless-its-all-part-his-branding\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Glenn Yong<\/u><\/a> took the stage at Mediacorp\u2019s 2025 Countdown Party By The Beach to perform his single <i>Break Out<\/i>, the internet had\u2026 opinions. Lots of them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Clips of the performance quickly circulated online, accompanied by snarky comments, memes and critiques about his singing. Unfortunately, Glenn Yong isn\u2019t the only one navigating that reality.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Local creator Shannon Taylor summed up a frustration many creators in Singapore feel: Why do we hate those who try different things from the usual study-to-corporate route?<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"_base_1xuyu_1 _instagram_1xuyu_20\" title=\"\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUVcN9xkgX7\/embed\/captioned\/?omitscript=true\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5625\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Scroll through Singapore\u2019s social media ecosystem, and <a class=\"_externalLinks_wioo3_126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/life\/what-zhen-zhens-rise-infamy-says-about-singapores-appetite-realness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">you\u2019ll find personalities like <\/a><a class=\"_externalLinks_wioo3_126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/life\/what-zhen-zhens-rise-infamy-says-about-singapores-appetite-realness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><u>Zhen Zhen<\/u><\/a><a class=\"_externalLinks_wioo3_126\" href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/life\/what-zhen-zhens-rise-infamy-says-about-singapores-appetite-realness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"> (Tan Wan Chen)<\/a>, a content creator known for her candid oversharing, unapologetic Singlish and chronically online presence. For some followers, she\u2019s entertaining precisely because she\u2019s unfiltered. For others, she\u2019s become a kind of internet spectacle \u2014 someone people watch, mock or meme.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">While it is easy to hate on online personalities, you\u2019ll quickly find that this behaviour happens to everyone, even within our own social circles. The internet has a term for this \u2014 hater culture. An online phenomenon that is characterised by widespread negativity, mockery and intense criticism. If you\u2019ve ever found yourself hate-watching or hate-following a creator, or even lurking on a snark page on Reddit, congratulations, you\u2019re taking part in hate culture too.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"we-re-all-just-part-of-the-rat-race\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">We\u2019re all just part of the rat race<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">We asked Singaporeans why hater culture exists here, and one theme comes up repeatedly: competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Rohini, 27, believes it starts early.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cI genuinely feel like our education system has conditioned us to be overly competitive. From such a young age, we\u2019re ranked, compared, graded, and taught that someone else\u2019s success somehow affects our own.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Rohini, 27<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">As a content creator herself, she has experienced firsthand the threat that comes with success. \u201cI\u2019ve heard so many creators speak negatively about others, people they don\u2019t even know personally, and it rarely feels constructive. It often sounds like it\u2019s coming from a place of insecurity or threat, as if someone else shining somehow takes away from them. But success isn\u2019t a limited resource. There\u2019s space for all of us,\u201d she voices.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">In other words, if you grow up in a system where performance is prioritised over expression, it\u2019s easy to carry that competitiveness into adulthood. \u201cWhen you grow up constantly being measured, it\u2019s hard to genuinely be happy for someone else without comparing,\u201d adds Rohini.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Bryan, 26, sees it as a byproduct of Singapore\u2019s relentless hustle culture.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cEveryone is always about hustling and trying to hit certain milestones and checkpoints because these determine your status.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Bryan, 26<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"is-the-traditional-singaporean-dream-too-narrow-\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">Is the traditional \u201cSingaporean Dream\u201d too narrow?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Another reason might lie in <i>how<\/i> we define success. Think about it. The traditional \u201cSingaporean dream\u201d tends to follow a script: Degree \u2192 full-time job \u2192 BTO \u2192 marriage \u2192 kids. <\/p>\n<p>But what happens when someone alters the script?\u00a0Leory, 22, describes it as a mismatch between the end goal and the path you take to get there.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cYou can achieve the same outcome, financial stability, marriage, and starting a family, but if you didn\u2019t follow the conventional route, people might still look down on it.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Leroy, 22<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Content creators and artists often achieve financial success through paths that don\u2019t fit the template. To others, that can look like an \u201ceasier route\u201d, even though it often involves years of trial, failure and public scrutiny. Also, skillsets heavily differ, which, truthfully, some of these tech girls and fin bros might not have it in them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The result? A mix of fascination, envy and scepticism.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"look-ma-i-made-it-\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">Look Ma, I made it!<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Jerica, 24, points out a contradiction many homegrown creatives recognise.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cPeople support local but only when they reach a certain level of success.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Jerica, 24<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Before that point, trying, experimenting and even failing publicly can invite criticism instead of encouragement. Shi Ting, 23, agrees. \u201cSingaporeans expect things to be immediately polished and perfect,\u201d she says. \u201cBut pursuits like content creation involve a lot of trial and error.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">With the anonymity of the internet, comments can be made without consequence, and criticism escalates quickly.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cSingaporeans also love gossip and dogpiling.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Shi Ting, 23<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"are-you-entertained-\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">Are you entertained?<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Of course, not all criticism is malicious. Lorraine, 22, admits she sometimes enjoys watching public scandals unfold online, whether as a lesson for the wrongdoer or simply for entertainment.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cWe always sort of enjoy being bystanders to someone else\u2019s demise.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Lorraine, 22<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">But she also distinguishes creators who feel authentic and those who seem \u201ctry hard\u201d. \u201cTalents like The Sam Willows or Yung Raja, they easily attract us to support them because their personality and talent clearly shine through,\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Others, particularly personalities known more for their looks than their craft, are more likely to face scepticism. That perception, fair or not, often fuels online commentary.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"complain-culture\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">Complain culture<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Some people argue that what we call \u201chate\u201d might actually be something else entirely. Ramesh, 24, believes gossip and complaining often stem from frustration rather than pure hatred.<\/p>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cUsually, when people are happy with their own situation, they are happy for others as well. Complaining comes from being bitter about where they are.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Ramesh<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 id=\"-hater-culture-isn-t-just-a-singaporean-thing\" class=\"_subHeading2_1k87u_112 _base_1k87u_1\">\u201cHater culture\u201d isn\u2019t just a Singaporean thing<\/h3>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Still, the phenomenon isn\u2019t unique to us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Sociologists often describe this behaviour as Tall Poppy Syndrome \u2014 the tendency to criticise or cut down people who stand out or achieve individual success.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">The concept originated in Australia and New Zealand, but similar patterns exist worldwide. Mexico has the \u201ccrab bucket mentality\u201d, where individuals pull others down when they try to climb out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">This suggests that what we call \u201chater culture\u201d might actually be a universal human instinct amplified by social media.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">However, content creator and owner of Singapore\u2019s first olive oil brand, Be\u00eet Ballout Alia, still feels that hater culture in Singapore is one of the most detrimental, which shows that change is needed. We ought to be kinder as a community.<\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"_base_1xuyu_1 _instagram_1xuyu_20\" title=\"\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DUNvVj-Eo42\/embed\/captioned\/?omitscript=true\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5625\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"so-are-we-actually-such-haters-\" class=\"_subHeading1_1k87u_111 _base_1k87u_1\">So\u2026 are we actually such haters?<\/h2>\n<div class=\"_callblockContainer_1s899_1\">\n<div class=\"_callblockTextContainer_1s899_44\">\n<p><b><i>\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s just hate. There\u2019s a mixture of support and envy.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Chloe, 26<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">In fact, Singaporeans can be fiercely supportive too, especially once someone succeeds internationally. But the journey there? That\u2019s often the hardest part.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">Because in a society where success is tightly defined, anyone who chooses a different path will always stand out. And sometimes, standing out makes you the easiest target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">If there\u2019s one takeaway from all these conversations, it\u2019s this: Singaporeans may love to criticise, but we\u2019re also deeply invested in watching each other succeed \u2014 or fail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"_base_1s8rd_1 _default_1s8rd_12\">So, maybe the real question isn\u2019t whether hater culture exists. It\u2019s whether we can learn to make space for people to try, stumble and grow, the <i>unSingaporean<\/i> way, before they \u201cmake it\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.herworld.com\/pov\/does-singapore-have-hater-culture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Her Terms Only\u00a0is Her World\u2019s no-filter column that dives straight into the minds (and mouths) of women \u2014 and occasionally men \u2014 across generations to&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36713,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36712","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36712"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36712\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}