We live in what we call the ‘Digital Age’. The internet aids us in the simplest of tasks in our daily lives and a day without it is like going ‘cold turkey’. With the internet comes social networking sites (i.e. Facebook, Twitter) and forums where people from all over the world can ‘meet’ to chat in real time. It’s so amazing, we can get instant access to almost anything, which means faster news and quicker updates from fellow ‘surfers’.
(Image from: Agent-X)
Being ‘online’ is almost the same as being ‘offline’ (our real physical world). It’s like a universe of it’s own and it takes a whole new form of communication amongst people. It is interesting to note whilst the Internet aids us in many ways, it also quickens the way in which bad things (i.e. gossip, scandals, virus, scammers) are being circulated.
And that includes ‘cyber bullying’.
If you’re not aware of this term, I’m sure it’s easy to figure out what it means. Cyber bullying is a form of ‘electronic harassment’, especially amongst youths. It has been suggested that cyber bullying produces disinhibition and results in these ‘bullies’ to become more aggressive than they would be if they were confronting their victims face-to-face.
(Image from: Harold’s Kids)
Why? It’s mainly because of the anonymity which the internet provides us. The difference between traditional bullying and cyber bullying is that in cyber bullying, the perpetrator is not necessarily more ‘powerful’ than the victim; they just hide behind their computers. The perpetrator just has to post a single piece of information online and the next thing you know, it has spread to millions of other netizens. Because of how quickly information is now disseminated, it is harder to take back the slanderous words or to even attempt to stop circulation (as compared to the past where there was still time for say, an individual has the chance to “stop the press”).
Cyber bullying is a form of written (verbal) communication, from encoder (bully) to decoder (victim). Since the communication is not done in person, feedback is delayed, and the aggressors are not able to receive any form of verbal/non-verbal communication from their victims which may moderate their behaviour.
Recently, I came across a really interesting piece of news from Korea. Jae-beom, leader of a group called 2PM, was found to have made the comments “Korea is gay. I hate Koreans. I wanna come back (to Seattle)” on his Myspace account, in 2005. Netizens have managed to dig up these comments and a lot of hoo-ha has been created, especially at online communities, most of them seriously way over the top.
[Jaebeum, leader of boy group 2PM]
(Image from: Sour Love Candy)
Within a span of 4 days since his Myspace controversy was officially reported, thousands of netizens flooded the forums to give their opinion and it even sparked political discussions American-born Koreans. Petitions were even created, stating their stand on the topic. One of them was a suicide petition created by netizens on Agora, which was titled “Jaebeom should commit suicide”, and was signed by at least 3000 people. Another petition, “Please forgive our Jaebeom just this once”, was circulated and it accumulated 6000 signatures in just 2 days.
At the end of that 4 days? The said victim, Jaebeom, has since returned to Seattle and quit the music industry as a whole.
September 21, 2009 at 4:57 am |
In the case for Jaebeom, his privacy was invaded.
For a foreign student in a land faraway from home, he got everyright to feel lonely and resent the place. I would be =/
There are loads of postitive comments he posted about Korea later on. However this particular netizen who hacked into his account seem to ignored tham all. Only when the damage was done had she tried to salvage the situation, which is ridiculous.
He is already seen as the ‘korea hater’ trying to make money in Korea. What damage control afterwards could not cool down the patriotic feelings from people whom are not his fans.
He left for US feeling really depress. Its not right for such invasion of privacy acts to occur.
=(
September 21, 2009 at 2:01 pm |
Hi Sam,
I definitely agree with the fact that cyber-bullying makes the bullies more bold due to the anonymity that the internet provides. It is because they know that they can do and say things which they know will hurt someone else without having the bear the consequences of their malice. In the case of Jaebeom, I do feel sorry for him as it is obvious that whatever he said was taken out of context and blown way out of proportion. The sad thing about the internet is that whatever content you decide to publish online is available for everyone else to not only view, but to use and to distort for their own purposes.
September 25, 2009 at 8:58 pm |
HI SAM!
I agree with you regarding the issues you raised about Cyber bullying. But i think that Cyber bullying emphasises more on the number of bullies, and one victim. This is because written language alone might not be as powerful and hurtful. But if there is a number of people who grouped against you with the intention to hurt you, it changes the situation.
Great post! Comment on mine too!
cforceleste.blogspot.com
September 27, 2009 at 5:05 pm |
hey sam!
i agree with you about what u mentioned on cyber bullying.
alot of people resort to it as they are hidden. therfore it requires them less guts as to do it face to face with the person.
indeed a very good entry!