Long before the invention of cyberspace that enabled people communicate easier and faster, our forefathers travelled miles on foot to deliver messages. Other times, they signaled with fire, drums and whistles. It could take days, months or years for information to be sent across.
With the arrival of the digital age, with just the tap on a button one can send a message to someone who lives several miles away in just a minute. The iniquitousness of the new age is the beauty that makes information sharing so easy.
However, every development comes with its own sets of challenges, of which the digital age is no exception. Cyber bullying or cyber harassment is one of those challenges associated with the new age.
According to Wikipedia, Cyber bullying or online bullying is a form of bullying using electronic means. Over the past decades it has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital space has expanded and technology advanced.
Internet trolling is a common form of cyber bullying that takes place in an online community in order to elicit a reaction or simply just for someone’s amusement.
Cyber bullying is when an individual harasses another on the internet and other digital spaces, particularly, on social media sites, making them feel uncomfortable, threatened and/or intimidated.
The most common types of online harassment, according to some students from the United States (US), are mean comments (22.5%), online rumours (20.1%) and sexual remarks (12.1%), a report from the Cyber Bullying Research Center revealed.
Harmful bullying behaviour can include posting rumours, threats, sexual remarks, a personal information or hate speech.
In these times where people are quarantined and under lockdown due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been an increasing need for people to seek information, education, and entertainment from the internet, notably social media.
Unfortunately, some unscrupulous persons have used this opportunity to harass unsuspecting individuals in the name of having some fun without considering the implications their actions may have on the mental health of the individuals.
Internet trolling, as a means of amusement, is a practice that should be frowned upon, because it can lead to low self-esteem, suicide and defamation of a person’s character or reputation.
The consequences of cyber bullying are a variety of health risks, including depression, anxiety and cardiovascular problems.
In Ghana, internet trolls are usually targeted at public figures at any given opportunity, because people believe they are entitled to have their opinions when it comes to a public figure’s lifestyle. Celebrities such as the late Ebony Reigns, Efia Odo, Wendy Shay and many others have had to deal with hateful comments from supposed “fans” almost every day.
That is not to say this is a problem for only celebrities, because even regular people get bullied on social media on countless occasions. In an interview with some young adults on their experiences with internet trolling, they revealed how upsetting the practice is and how it negatively impacts on their mental health.
“I posted a picture on Facebook, and about two minutes later, people started degrading my looks. This has affected my self-esteem till date,” Ama Sasu, one of the interviewees stated.
The issue with trolls is that they see no wrong in their behaviour because, to them, it is only a form of entertainment, hence, they may down play the effects of their actions on their victims.
Speaking to some people who have engaged in trolling at some point in their lives, one revealed he was only saying the truth and did not want to be politically correct. “I am blunt, and I say how I feel about situations. I may come off as rude, but they are celebrities. Once they post something, they do not control how I decide to react to it. Besides, sometimes it’s not even serious, it’s for fun,” he stated.
The act of internet trolling is not just done by individuals, as certain popular blogs online have taken it upon themselves to gain clout and monetise their blogs by churning out contents that tarnish the image of public figures, all in their bid to make some profit by selling advertisement slots to businesses on their blogs.
Due to the fact that most people find interest in gossip, half-truths and unfounded claims, these bloggers tend to gain mass audience on their posts. And due to the financial benefits, they see no reason in putting a stop to such acts. Conclusively, mental health is very essential, and people need to learn that their actions may affect others negatively.
Internet trolling is too dangerous a practice to be used as a form of amusement, as it has led to many people attempting suicide and engaging in other harmful behaviours. It is highly recommended that people desist from internet trolls.
Also, they should avoid posting contents that disclose personal information of individuals, as this may lead to dangers such as theft, harassment, rape and many more. Instead, people should make use of the report feature on social media sites by reporting sites which are identified to be using their platforms to troll others.
By losing their accounts or having their accounts restricted, it will serve as a deterrent to other internet trolls who engage in this despicable act. Social media campaigns to sensitise people on how internet trolling can affect a person’s mental health and why it is not a practice for amusement should be started.
Together, the menace of internet trolling and its dire effects on individuals can be mitigated.
Author: Catherina Pardikie Partey, Student (GIJ)
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s editorial stance
The post Cyber bullying must stop appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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