By Lillian Sage.

On Aug. 29, pop star Sabrina Carpenter released her seventh studio album, “Man’s Best Friend.” While the album was met with commercial success, even debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 200, the album was the focal point of a lot of criticism on social media. 

Upon the album’s release, there were posts regarding the substance of the album circling all around social media. Users claimed the album was just an extension of her last album, “Short n’ Sweet,” and there was no originality aspect to it along with it being overly sexual and poorly produced. However, now if a person were to do their daily scroll on social media, they would find mostly positive reviews.

Users on social media, especially TikTok, claimed that after a few listens to the album, they started to like it more. The same people pinpointing the album’s flaws became the ones praising it. 

The reactions surrounding Carpenter’s controversial album are just a recent example of the way the internet can work to shape and alter people’s opinions on popular media.

Social media has become an outlet for users to discuss their “hot takes.” According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a hot take is “a quickly produced, strongly worded, and often deliberately provocative or sensational opinion or reaction (as in response to current news).”

The definition implies that a hot take is supposed to be controversial. Controversial content can thrive on social media which works to make hot takes prominent within society. 

Hot takes can be about all different kinds of topics. If a person was to look up “hot take” on TikTok, they would come across opinions as casual as someone’s natural hair color and tipping culture to as serious as relationships and mental health. 

Fred Jennings, assistant professor of communication and technology, has limited his use of social media due to certain negativity that he has seen on his feeds. Jennings said social media gives the opportunity to discuss opinions on things like music and politics, but people will sometimes go over the top. 

Jennings said extreme opinions will be posted just to get interaction on social media. As a result, the hot takes on social media may not always be the original poster’s true thoughts; it may just be a way to make someone go viral. 

“From a uses and gratification perspective,” Jennings said, “we use media for particular reasons, and so if somebody is using social media to get attention, or, even just to rile things up, and if they are meeting that need, then they’re going to continue to do that. And so, I think that people are incentivized to have hot takes.”

Jennings said user’s polarizing hot takes can persuade others to follow this opinion as well as make people feel even more strongly about their own opinions.

Callie Kent, a sophomore marketing major, explained users on social media find it easier to hate on things than to respect them. Kent said when hot takes are made, other users’ opinions can be affected to some degree depending on how significant the hot take is. 

While sometimes hot takes are intended to sway others’ opinions on a subject, other times they are purely trying to garner attention or rile people up.

“I think as we progress people are just going to get more opinionated and they want to be different so bad,” Kent said. “They want to be like ‘Oh, hot take, hot take,’ and it’s cool to have a hot take and have your own opinion, but also don’t do it just out of wanting to stand out. Like not everything needs a hot take.” 

Seth Teague, a business owner, said a positive aspect of social media is that everyone gets to have a voice, not just those with a following. However, this makes it so anyone can have a polarizing hot take and get reactions from people on social media. 

“You want to be able to put your two cents out there,” Teague said, “even if you’re not qualified, you can still put it out. I mean, that’s the beauty of social media, is that you get to engage. There’s no gatekeepers anymore.” 

Kent said she does not see hot takes going anywhere for a long time. 

Jennings said his advice to people who might be tired of seeing these hot takes is to use social media in moderation and find more positive pages. However, Kent has a hot take when it comes to her advice. 

“Get off of social media,” Kent said. “I know it sounds like ‘get off of social media like it’s bad for you,’ but I mean seriously if it’s affecting you, just don’t [get on it].”