We see people like this often: while using violent and discriminatory language against others, they claim, “This is my freedom of speech” and hurt others in the name of freedom. Is cyberbullying and violence covered by “freedom of speech?” The answer is NO, cyber violence does not constitute “freedom of speech.”
In this era of advanced technology, anyone can express themselves freely as long as they have access to the Internet. It is the result of the anonymity of the network and the problem of cyberbullying, which is challenging to solve. Once you see what you don’t like or what is in conflict with your own ideas, you can leave a word of abuse or even “invite your friends” to see it with you. The Internet gives Internet users the feeling that they have “freedom of speech”, and that under the anonymous system, they can do whatever they want.
Many people do this, but they do not realize that they are bullying. They just leave a casual word or casual post; the network gives them the right to speak and share the same opinion with people in that filter bubble, even when it may have caused great harm to others.
Online bullying does not discriminate between age, gender, skin color, occupation, etc. Many public figures deal with cyberbullying every day to the tune of verbal abuse, boycotts, and even spoof photos. A number of celebrities have committed suicide as a result of cyberbullying, including Korean k-pop idols Sulli and Goo Hara, Chinese actor Qiao Renliang, Japanese wrestler Kimura Hana …and many more.
But, when celebrities encounter such situations, it is bound to result in remarks such as “in order to be a star, you have to be able to withstand criticism”, “how could the public support the star if he or she cannot accept criticism”, and so on. They fail to realize this is just a form of cyberbullying in disguise.
Cyberbullying is like when you accuse someone and one finger is pointing at the other person, but the other four fingers are pointing at yourself. When you accuse someone of committing a particular crime, you are effectively exacerbating their problems.
One might argue that encountering online violence is the price one must pay to be outspoken, but this argument doesn’t differ from saying that women are justified in being raped due to their social standing.
Everyone is free to refuse these insults and personal attacks. Celebrities are no different from you and me. Don’t be a rebel without a cause.
