Cyber bullying: Has anonymity invoked our evil side?
In the era of technology, everyone has a mobile phone and a social media account. Holding a social media account is seen as a status symbol for some reasons. Though media has reached nook and corner of this world, voice out our opinions, it has also became a threat for many. Anyone can defame anyone in the platform and it is done without any irk. We look down on a person who uses unparliamentary language in public but not in the virtual world. The anonymity has given the courage to say or judge a person and simply move on without a shame.
A man who is shy, with a social media account, he stalks women, send dirty pictures or messages. I'm not lying, this happens everyday with every woman but we simply ignore. At least that's what every other 'good' men suggest to do. 'Why do you create a fuss out of it? You have the option to block him right away. This is not worth discussing'. These are comments from many common men when I quoted an incident. Even men face such issues, I shouldn't be biased when it comes to cyber bullying. It happens for everyone.
Aren't we boosting them by ignoring? When a legal action isn't taken, doesn't it give more courage to stalk anyone he /she passes by? There is no strict law at the present if someone bullies us on a social media platform. This makes most of to simply ignore few incidents which we morally know it is wrong and we simply let poisonous thoughts to prevail.
Recently I read a news about a celebrity who supported and voiced out against a person who posted inappropriate comment on a 15 yrs old child actress photo in Instagram. All culture saviors have commented their opinions on the post. I was literally shocked to read those horrible words from 'progressive' men.
"She should dress like a child otherwise she must handle such abuses"
"A child must be either good at sports or studies, only then they will be respected in society. She doesn't behave like a child. She herself told that she want to become an actress then why bother about those comments (harassment)"
"That's what happens when you do such photo shoots"
And many more dirty comments targeting the supporting celebrity as well as the kid. People have actually liked and loved these comments (all men) and no single women commented on that post. It wasn't surprising at all because even I was scared to post my thoughts. I was afraid of facing those anonymous people who defamed 2 women and it wouldn't take much time to pass abusive comments on me too. I can see the level those people can go to. Just because a child chose an unconventional career, people are taking the liberty to harass her in public domain. There is also another lady who bad mouths anyone and everyone. She bullies all top stars and their wives for no reason at all. She doesn't even realize that she is disturbing and tormenting their lives. Threatening, harassing, body shaming, passing judgmental comments pushes even a confident person into depression. And in this pandemic, depression is a major talk in the community and as a society everyone must be supporting each other by all means instead of degrading someone online.
This anonymous identity and absence of strict laws against cyber bullying is encouraging them to speak dirty and poke into someone's life without their consent. And they don't really realize the effects of cyber bullying. When a celebrity ends his / her life, these are same people who posts 'RIP' for no reason.
What are we teaching the young minds of our next generation? Whatever you are doing sitting with a computer, he will do that in public. Because if it's seen a right in the internet, it will be seen right in reality too. Whom should be blamed here?
How can we stop this? I would expect people to speak up. When a person posts a dirty comment or assassinate a person's character in social media platforms, fellow people should stop him / her from doing so (not by using abusive language). There are chances that the person would at least think before posting such derogatory comments when everyone starts condemning such acts.
Every person should have morals and decorum not just in reality but also when he has the opportunity to hide behind a fake identity. If a fake identity is giving the person courage to do things that he wouldn't in real life, won't the person take opportunity to abuse anyone when no one is seeing? There are chances.
Let's create a society where everyone feels safe even in a virtual world!
Yours,
Priya
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