Sophie Passmann is disillusioned by debates on social media

Sophie Passmann (32), author and podcaster, sees little point in debates on social media. "I think it's perfectly fine to question things that I do," said Passmann at the Leipzig Book Fair. Only when it comes to discussions on social networks is she now "a bit more resigned and a bit cynical, because in 90 percent of cases I have experienced that debates don't want to be held there, but actually someone just wants to tell me: "I always thought you were shit!""

"It's not about arguments. With a few exceptions, that's not what social networks are built for. There are no debating chambers. Many people don't even want to debate. They denounce you because they actually want to put you on the right path," said Passmann. "Criticism on social networks is often just malicious, full of projection and unobjective and untrue."

"I think I have to spend less time on social media because I'm becoming more thin-skinned," said the 32-year-old, who has accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers on networks such as Instagram and TikTok. Her current book "Wie kann sie nur?" (How can she?) deals with being a woman on the internet.