Stopbullying.gov defines cyberbullying as bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through SMS, Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behaviour.
The most common places where cyberbullying occurs are:
- Social Media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter
- SMS (Short Message Service) also known as Text Message sent through devices
- Instant Message (via devices, email provider services, apps, and social media messaging features)
I noticed that abusive netizens using Facebook group chats and e-mails and What’s App or Viber group chats are involved in group cyber bullying against someone or against another group of people they dislike, against someone they are jealous of, against someone whom they want to accuse something or plant intrigues, against someone they target as scapegoat of their wrongdoings and misjudgments, against someone who knows the truth of matters but whom they like to blame out of their irresponsible ways, against someone whom they pick to be as subject of their calumny, rumour mongering, polemics mongering, destructive lies and used as pawns, scapegoat, sacrificial lamb, and against someone whose integrity, reputation, credibility and trustworthiness they need to ruin.
These can be groups of cyber trolls and real people or an extended network of their multiple aliases moving as a teamwork of destructive trolls joining together to cyberbully any target person they need to silence or to destroy.
It is done usually by abusive political parties, small or big organisations who are involved in doing smear campaigns, especially when an election is coming. The cyberbullying group smear campaign is done by excessively malicious, envious people who are guilty of their wrongdoings but they found a scapegoat to blame, they use sacrificial lambs so that the actual destructive offenders and abusive instigators won’t be held liable of their irregularities in the past. It can also be a matter of envy to their targeted cyberbully victim because the person holds a much broader influence, holds funds or donations and there is envy, the clamour for validation, their self-entitlements matched with excessive pride to be always right and their power struggle competition among individuals and groups. With social media likes and viral reach, some people measure their importance or so-called fame on the number of their posts or thread posts are engaging. So for group bullies who are magnetised by fame whore viral reach, who promote public polemics, rumour mongering and excessive bashing, the engagement rises, and for them, that is to be considered as a valuable post to be viral and a very significant social media influencer.
Group digital bullying is happening among many netizens from various nationalities. It is always good to check the source, question their motives and verify the validity of the matter. It is also wiser to investigate, gather data, analyse and evaluate in various multiple angles. By doing so, you will spot the lies of omission, lies of influence and lies of commission and you will be able to identify who is the manipulator, the pathological liar from the one who is telling the truth.
Upholding the truth is not even just enough because these group cyberbullies can kidnap the truth, twist the truth, repeatedly lie about their revised versions of their corrupted sharing or posting, and even concoct false stories or design or photoshop planted screenshots or screenshots of conversations as they use to bash or ruin the damage of their target subject.
To cut a saga of polemics mongering drama, to cut off the chain of expanding lies, the parties involved must have an honest dialogue, with mutual respect, with authentic deep listening and understanding and mutual honesty when resolving the matters or issues at hand.
However, with group digital bullying and shaming, the cyberspace or social media become vitriolic, unhealthy and toxic to the emotions of the people involved and to the readers and collateral victims of the deception of others.
Bridge differences with mutual respect, reciprocal honesty and real, deep understanding.
Stop calumny.
Stop polemics mongering.
Stop planting intrigues.
Stop libellous slander.
Stop the lies.
Stop defamation.
Stop Emotional abuse
Stop verbal abuse.
Stop psychological abuse.
Help stop any kinds of bullying.
Don’t be part of any group digital aggression.
When using the social media it is best to be vigilant, honest, factual, truthful, respectful, mindful, diplomatic and in the long run, contribute to a harmonious, holistic progressive atmosphere.
© Ana Angelica Abaya van Doorn
Comments are closed.