MPUMALANGA – Victims of cyberbullying have described instances of online harassment as feeling besieged on all fronts—whether within the confines of their homes, at school, or just stepping outside.
The pervasive sense of being relentlessly targeted leaves individuals grappling with its damaging impact on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
As we spend more time on our phones, both young and old, this disturbing phenomenon is only escalating, leading to an increase in suicides among young people.
All it takes is for something to start trending on social media—a language most used by the youth these days—and all hell breaks loose.
According to a 2021 survey involving over 200 parents, more than half of their children (51.5%) had been bullied online. It also revealed that 54% of kids had access to inappropriate content via digital platforms.
Neo Rabothata (21) from Pankop is a survivor of cyberbullying. She was recently bullied by people close to her as well as strangers. After losing her husband, she started trending, and everyone seemed to have an opinion about her life.
She felt like she had lost control of her life until she went to the SAPS to report it.
“Being bullied on social media made me angry, hate myself, and too afraid to walk on the streets. I’d often ask myself what people were saying about me or wonder whether they were looking at me or not,” said Rabothata.
Nicholas Masondo, an auxiliary social worker and one of 19 Arekopaneng Project employees, said that cyberbullying has become very common.
“I had a case of a young girl who was harassed and exposed on social media by her ex-boyfriend. She trusted her boyfriend, but they broke up. The boy started embarrassing the girl online by sharing her family problems with the world, some of which were not true. He intended to embarrass her because they were no longer dating. The girl was hurt and nearly harmed herself with a knife because she couldn’t stand it anymore,” said Masondo.
He explained that cyberbullying has the capacity to disrupt an individual’s mental well-being.
Many individuals are prone to experiencing depression after being subjected to cyberbullying, as it significantly impacts their mental health. Furthermore, it has the potential to tarnish the reputation of a child or an individual. The barrage of negative and derogatory comments inflicts emotional pain, leading to diminished self-esteem and, in severe cases, prompting self-harm.
Masondo recommended that individuals exercise caution when sharing personal information on social media platforms. Moreover, fostering awareness is crucial in combatting harassment.
For instance, parents should take the initiative to educate their children about the various forms of cyberbullying and its repercussions from a young age to instil vigilance. Additionally, parents should actively monitor their children’s online activities and regulate their usage to proactively prevent untoward incidents. Above all, instances of cyberbullying must be promptly reported.
Lesego, who fell victim to cyberbullying, admitted to engaging in such behaviour merely for amusement, as it seemed to be a prevailing trend. She was unaware that cyberbullying constitutes a criminal offence. “I participated in commenting and sharing because it appeared to be the norm,” she remarked.
In 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa enacted the Cybercrimes Act, which offers protection against offences such as sex crimes and bullying, including revenge porn and extortion, among others.
According to Legalwise: “The Act criminalises various cybercrimes, including cyberbullying, like sending threatening messages or disseminating intimate images without consent. Intimate images can include nude or manipulated images of a person’s private anatomy.”
