Introduction
It is hard to disagree that the rapid development of technologies has allowed people to get access to an extended number of new features and opportunities like distant communication. It is now possible to follow celebrities on Instagram or monitor the lives of old friends from school. At the same time, it is also easier today for rude, annoyed, or merely miserable individuals to leave negative comments and threats either anonymously or with the certainty that no punishment will come (The Social Comment). This spread of adverse commenting is known as the culture of online bullying. Although many people do not consider online shaming a problem and state that it is easy to ignore rude comments, online bullying is actually a severe issue that is recognized as a threat to society’s well-being and is now out of control.
Main body
Nowadays, many internet users feel safe behind their screens and are unaware that what they say online can be tracked and monitored. For many miserable persons dissatisfied with their lives, online shaming is the only way to safely express their negative emotions (Max). They feel much better after commenting rude or threatening words and shaming others for their bodies, nationalities, or actions. According to Harris, “67 percent of adult Internet users under the age of 30 have personally experienced” online harassment, and this number is growing. Generally, these rude people leave comments that they would never say in real life, and this exaggerated online freedom of speech allows online bullying to get out of control.
Apart from the fact that rude comments upset people who receive them, there is another reason why cyberbullying needs to stop. According to the Megan Meier Foundation, “targets of cyberbullying are at a greater risk than others of both self-harm and suicidal behaviors.” Further, as noticed by researchers, victims of online shaming usually develop “low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, family problems, academic difficulties, delinquency, school violence, and suicidal thoughts/attempts” (Megan Meier Foundation). These are the real consequences that prove the danger of online bullying and make it clear that this phenomenon is out of control.
At the same time, according to some people, online shaming can have positive effects and should not be considered an issue. Thus, as noticed by Jennifer Jacquet, “digital shaming can succeed when other forms of political action fail” (Max). For instance, the world-known movement #MeToo has exposed many politicians, executives, and celebrities who have engaged in immoral behavior, while the Black Lives Matter movement has resulted in the exposure of many racist police officers (Max). Therefore, online bullying can bring rather positive results, but the reason behind this is the powerfulness and strong energy of this phenomenon (Harris). Consequently, if online harassment is considered powerful in positive movements, it is just as powerful in negative actions like rude comments, threats, and bullying of innocent people who simply express their talent or opinion.
Conclusion
To draw a conclusion, one may say that the culture of online shaming is truly out of control, and it will not be easy to stop this negative phenomenon. People feel secure and unpunished behind their screens and sometimes even fail to understand that those social media accounts to which they send threats or rude comments are actually real people who have feelings and emotions. Therefore, it is essential for people to leave only such comments that they are not afraid or ashamed to say to the same individual in person. Additionally, specific laws and regulations are needed to control and punish those digital users who cannot control themselves.
Works Cited
Harris, Miya. “Culture of Online Shaming Is out of Control.” The Silver Streak, Web.
Max, D. T. “The Public-Shaming Pandemic.” The New Yorker, 2020, Web.
Megan Meier Foundation. “Bullying, Cyberbullying, & Suicide Statistics.” Megan Meier Foundation, Web.
The Social Comment. “Is our Culture of Online Shaming out of Control?” Medium, 2020, Web.