EDITORIAL
CYBERBULLYING: IT IS TIME TO ACT
The emergence of the internet has come with a load of benefits and detriments. Though the argument of the benefits outweighing the detriments is not something readily settled upon, however, as little as they can be, the detriments arising from the abuse of the internet cannot be underestimated. Detriments like Cyber stalking, Cybersquatting, hacking, cyber bullying among others are problems we face every day. It is believed that Nigerian youths constitute about 65% of the millions of smart phone users in the country. Today, the average Nigerian youth spends about 12 hrs a day on the internet, usually on social media platforms; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and others. The increasing demand for smart phones and mobile internet has made online threats, harassment and exposure to harmful contents an increasingly pertinent issue.
The use of internet service and mobile technologies such as web pages and discussion groups as well as instant messaging or text messaging with the intention of harming another person is cyber bullying. According to U.S legal definitions, it could be limited to posting rumors or gossips about a person in the internet bringing about hatred in other’s minds. Many a time, our ‘’online friends’’ take issues such as crime, religion, appearance, sexual orientation to social media platforms to intimidate and harass us by sharing explicit contents, leaving harmful comments on our personal messages and many other times spreading rumors about us.
Many young people have been harmed physically and psychologically by bullies in schools and the streets while others have dropped out of school just to escape face-to-face bullying. It is quite unfortunate that today, bullies are only as far away as the personal computers and mobile phones. We cannot deny that the same things that happen on the playground now happen online. Just like face-to face bullying, cyber bullying is very dangerous as it can result in low self esteem, fear, frustration, anger, depression, emotional distress and increased suicidal ideation.
Unfortunately, in Nigeria, many young people keep quiet about cyber bullying due to fear of humiliation and sometimes because they do not want their online access restricted. However, in some parts of the world, there have been cases of cyber bullying which have been linked to the suicide of teenagers. Therefore, urgent attention must be paid to cyber bullying. The government with law enforcement agencies must look into putting in place rules and regulations to hunt and bring cyber bullies to book. Also, the Nigerian Communications Commission should compel service providers to offer services which can be used to restrict posts intended to harm others, track and block cyber bullies. In addition, today’s youths must be sensitized on the appropriate use of smart phones and internet. They should also be encouraged to report any case of cyber bullying or its related practices to the appropriate offices.
Every publication intended to defame and humiliate someone, lowers him in the face of right thinking people, decreases his self esteem and increases his chances of committing suicide. At a point, you posted a message on Facebook saying that you think somebody is gay. You have also tweeted that someone is not right thinking because he holds an opinion contrary to yours. You remember posting nude pictures of your partner on Instagram because he/she dumped you? Undeniably, we are all guilty of cyber bullying directly or indirectly. As young people, it is hightime we paid attention to the issue of cyber bullying as its rate is on the increase.
| AKINTAYO GRACE – ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR |
