Sorry—but also not really sorry, your seemingly “hot takes” might not be really hot like that oo.

There is a growing epidemic online, and it is not misinformation, politics, or even algorithm fatigue.

It is something far more dramatic than that and it's the unstoppable rise of the “hot take.”

Except, most of these hot takes are not actually hot. They are just room-temperature nonsense.

Stay with me and hear me out.

Everywhere you look on the Obasanjo internet today, someone has a “bold opinion.”

Every thread has a revolutionary thinker ready to shake society with their insight.

Everyone has something to say about everything, politics, relationships, culture, success, money, masculinity, feminism, global economics, celebrity drama, and even people they have never met.

And honestly? It's tiring, I don't want to hear it.

Sometimes we need insights during conversations. We need perspectives that challenge the norm, but what we are often getting instead are recycled thoughts dressed up as intellectual rebellion.

You know the format already: “Unpopular opinion…”

And then the opinion arrives like someone just reinvented philosophy.

Who asked you? Did we tell you that our brains aren't working to think?

Keep it to yourself sometimes.

Because some of us are already dealing with enough stress in real life and going through a tremendous amount of a lot.

We do not need the internet, a place with absolutely no boundaries, adding unnecessary noise to the mix and stressing everyone out.

The Internet Has Turned Everyone Into a Philosopher

I have started thinking that maybe we need something like a curfew for ourselves online.

A digital self-curfew of some sort.

But then again, that would sound like control, and everybody today loves shouting about freedom. So fine, let us forget the curfew idea.

Still, someone needs to explain something to me.

Why do people have hot takes on everything except themselves?

You have an opinion about relationships, about money, about politics, about how people should live their lives, but when it comes to self-reflection, suddenly that microphone disappears.

Use that same energy to advise yourself sometimes—you might need it and come and thank me later.

Because the uncomfortable truth is that when we scroll through many of these “viral hot takes,” they are not blazing insights. They are not intellectual fireworks.

And sorry to burst your bubble, but your seemingly scorching “hot take” isn't as hot as you think.

They are simply sitting at comfortable room temperature. Nobody actually felt the heat.

Social Media Rewards Performance, Not Thought

Now, let me be fair. Everyone has the right to contribute to conversations.

Dropping your one or two cents into a discussion is completely normal.

But the problem is the confidence level.

Some of these posts come with the boldness of someone delivering a closing argument in a courtroom.

Meanwhile the thought behind the statement barely survived a meme page.

A lot of this behavior is fueled by the social dopamine effect of platforms.

The rush and need for engagement has made it become addictive.

Likes, reposts, and quote tweets start rewarding the most dramatic statements rather than the most thoughtful ones.

And suddenly we have an entire generation of extremely online philosophers.

You know the type.

Someone reads one article from The Atlantic or watches a three-minute commentary video and suddenly transforms into Socrates.

Next thing you know, they are dropping philosophical bombs across different timelines and socials.

Except… the bombs are actually empty.

Room temperature again.

What makes it even more interesting is that many of these “hot takes” are not even original.

People see a clever line somewhere, maybe from a meme or a viral tweet, and they post it on their own page like they are the originator of the wisdom.

Not to insult anyone’s intelligence but sometimes you can clearly see the performance.

You are not just sharing an idea — you are performing intelligence for an audience.

And if you think I am not minding my business, please come and beat me.

Not Every Opinion Needs to Be Revolutionary

Another exhausting part of internet culture is this constant pressure to sound revolutionary.

Every comment must be sharp. Every post must be savage. Every opinion must dismantle something.

But honestly, not every conversation requires intellectual warfare.

Sometimes you can just say something calmly and rest.

There are millions of other posts online, other voices people can listen to and other perspectives people can consider.

You are not the only person who owns a smartphone and you're not the only person who knows how to talk.

And here is the boring reality lies: if we remove the performance, the theatrics, the dramatic tone, and the constant attempts to appear insightful…

What exactly is left? Sometimes the answer is uncomfortable to actually hear.

Not much, in some cases, nothing at all!

Before Your Next “Hot Take,” Check the Thermostat

So next time that rush of dopamine hits you and you feel the urge to drop a blazing “hot take” on the timeline, pause for a second.

Check your thermostat, because chances are the temperature might still be sitting comfortably at room level.

That does not mean opinions are bad. Everyone shares thoughts online sometimes. We are all guilty of it.

But at least some of us have the decency to feel a little embarrassed afterward when we realize we might have overdone things.

Self-awareness is underrated on the internet and maybe—just maybe—the next viral thread you post should contain an actual thought.

Something cooked properly.

Because if the goal is pure savagery, at least do it well. Cook the dish completely. Let the argument simmer properly.

Nobody wants intellectual leftovers and definitely nobody wants a cold plate of recycled commentary.

And while the hot-take Avengers continue assembling online, I will be over here quietly enjoying real food.

Not fake food or reheated opinions, but actual substance.

Hot-take Avengers, disassemble.

See you on the next one.