“Be Careful Who You Date”: 50 Awful Images That Provide A Reality Check About The World (New Pics)

It’s no secret that people can be awful sometimes.

But if there’s any hope for accountability, the bare minimum is calling it out.

That’s exactly what happens in a Reddit community called Awful Everything, a place where users highlight some of the saddest, most infuriating examples of human behavior. It might not restore your faith in humanity, but it does offer a brutally honest glimpse into the world we all live in.

Scroll down to see some of the most striking and heartbreaking posts shared online.

#1 This Gravestone

#2 Idk How, But He Got A Great Birthday Gift After All

It’s hard to look. But somehow, you can’t stop.

Disturbing or upsetting content online can make you want to shut your laptop, toss your phone aside, and disappear under a blanket. And yet, we keep scrolling.

There’s a reason for that.

Psychological research shows that disgusting or emotionally charged stimuli tend to grab and hold our attention more effectively than neutral ones.

#3 Life

#4 Greed

#5 These Health Insurance Companies Are A Viper’s Nest Of Soulless Scumbaggery

Media scholars Bridget Rubenking and Annie Lang suggest this response is deeply rooted in our biology. From an evolutionary standpoint, “an attentional bias toward disgust—no matter how aversive—would better equip humans to avoid harmful substances.”

In other words, even when something repels us, it also pulls us in, a strange survival instinct that still lingers.

#6 Pay To Survive

#7 And They Ask Me Why I Don’t Go To Church

#8 Sea World

But while the occasional disturbing headline or post can be manageable, the constant exposure to negativity, especially in the form of news and human failure, quickly becomes overwhelming.

It wasn’t always like this.

Not so long ago, the average person got their daily dose of information from a newspaper or the evening news. Now, with social media, upsetting stories we never asked to see are constantly thrown into our feed, without warning and without pause.

#9 People Are The Worst

#10 Awful Boss

#11 The Audacity

And it doesn’t stop there.

Many media outlets intentionally use a strategy known as “flooding the zone”—bombarding the public with so many stories (often confusing or sensationalized) that it becomes impossible to focus on any single issue.

The result? Mental fatigue, confusion, and a sense of helplessness. Instead of gaining clarity, we’re left feeling like everything is spinning out of control.

#12 Egypt: A 15-Year Old Wife (Married At 13) Was Brutally M**dered Over A Pasta Dish She Made Without Her Husband’s Permission

#13 Spotted These Baby Turtles With Painted Shells Being Sold On A Street In China

They’re clearly being marketed towards children… the whole shop was filled with animal rights violations. Wish there was something I could do.

#14 Another Boy Lost His Life Due To Bullying At School

So how do we protect ourselves from the mental toll of constant bad news?

Lisa Shows, a licensed professional counselor and owner of Bright Potential Counseling in Flagstaff, Arizona, shares some ways to manage the anxiety that comes with being plugged in all the time.

The first step, and perhaps the most obvious, is to step away.

“You don’t have to stay up-to-date every moment of the day. Take breaks for as long as you need to recharge and reset your mind,” Shows advises. “This might mean taking a day off from social media or deciding not to check the news before bed. Giving yourself space from the constant news cycle can help restore your emotional balance.”

#15 Damn

#16 Awful Police Officer

#17 Alive But Definitely A Life Lost

She also recommends being intentional about where you get your news.

Not all sources are created equal, and choosing ones that prioritize accuracy over drama can make a huge difference. Seek outlets that focus on delivering verified information, not just the stories most likely to generate outrage.

#18 How Can Kids Be So Hateful? That Too With A 80 Year Old Person

#19 This Coffee Shop In My City In Canada

#20 Man Dies While Helping Ducklings…

When things feel chaotic, it can help to look at the bigger picture.

Zooming out rather than getting stuck in the noise of each individual story can offer clarity and help you stay grounded. Often, things aren’t quite as apocalyptic as the headlines suggest.

#21 Damn

#22 Traumatizing The Next Generation

#23 Awful Parent

It’s also important to balance the heavy stuff with positive content that restores some sense of hope.

If your faith in the world is running low, deliberately seek out the good—heartwarming stories, inspiring moments, or even just a cute kitten pic. Or take a step back altogether and do something comforting like listening to music, watching a favorite show, or spending time offline.

#24 Brazilian Mayor Marries A 16 Year Old Girl (Minimum Age, W/ Parents Consent), 1 Day After Her Birthday. He’s 65

#25 Just Saw This On Twitter. Mate…

#26 Floridian Teacher Severely Beaten

Finally, Shows reminds us not to isolate ourselves.

“Talk to friends or family about things other than the news. Engage in activities that allow you to bond and enjoy each other’s company without focusing on politics or current events,” she says. “Playing games, enjoying a meal together, or taking part in outdoor activities can provide a much-needed break from the constant news cycle.”

#27 I Wish I Could Say This Is Satire But Child Marriage Is Still Legal In 45 States

#28 JFC

#29 Sad

#30 Zach Radcliff, Church Youth Director Arrested Yesterday On 6 Counts Of Child S** A**se, Headlined At 2019 Cpac

#31 Poor Little Guy Got His Head Stuck In A Soda Can And Probably Starved To Death

#32 Secret Extra Flavour. McDonald’s Drying Mops Over Fries

#33 Theft In My City Is So Bad They Have To Label Pipes So Our Increasing Homeless Population Doesn’t Steal It

By the way, this is in Canada.

#34 This Happened In The Philippines

#35 Negligent Parents And The Horrific Consequences

#36 What A Sad Start And End To Life

#37 Robbing An 8 Year Old’s Lemonade Stand

#38 Australia Whistleblower Who Exposed Australian Military’s Warcrimes In Afghanistan Is The Only Person Sentenced To Prison

#39 In 2015, Two South Korean Soldiers Lost Their Feet To Nk Mine While On Patrol. However, Instead Of Providing Them With Proper Compensation, The Government Chose To Raise A Monument… Which Is Basically A Big Amputated Foot

#40 Big Oof

#41 One Ton

#42 Unskippable Loud Ads While Getting Gas

#43 Demanding Money To Save A Life

#44 Absolutely Disgusting!

#45 Granny Had To Get Back By Any Means

#46 Uh.. What Now..?

#47 Bernard And Ann Mcdonagh – Couple Dine-And-Dashed From This New Restaurant Failed To Pay £1,000 In Bills Using Their Kid As The Bait To Escape

#48 I Deliver To Restaurants, Look At All The Slugs In This Stores Chicken Cooler Door

#49 :•| The Thing

#50 Medical School Selling The Remains Of Loved Ones

#51 Aggies Fans Kicked Out Of College World Series For Making Fun Of Other Teams Batboy Who Was K**led

#52 Florida Man Lands Helicopter On Egmont Key, Causing Numerous Protected Shorebird Species To Flee Their Nests

#53 This Is Absolutely Disgusting

#54 Heartbreaking

#55 This Sign I Saw In Vietnam

#56 Alleged B**tiality Bus With Dozens Of Animals Stopped In Pennsylvania

I read the article. They were not sc**wing the chickens and turkeys. The birds were fed to the dogs that were on the bus. The cows where the ones who got the s**ual a**se.

#57 Flyers Being Handed Out In My Sister’s Neighborhood