The most troubling aspect of cyberbullying is that it pervades virtually every field of life, including sports, fashion, entertainment, and beyond.
By Michael Akuchie
Earlier this year, following the final match of the 2024 African Cup of Nations—a football tournament in which Nigeria lost to its West African counterpart, Ivory Coast—a certain midfielder became the subject of widespread cyberbullying that persisted for weeks. Alex Iwobi, the Nigerian midfielder who made his senior debut on 8th October 2015, was heavily criticised by fans for his performance during the competition.
Although some disappointment was expected, given the defeat in a high-stakes final, the fans took it too far. They spread theories suggesting that Iwobi received call-ups to the national team due to nepotism, being the nephew of the football legend Augustine Azuka “Jay Jay” Okocha. Some posts even claimed that Iwobi was an anomaly in a family that had produced icons like “Jay Jay”.
These bitter actions forced Iwobi to lock down his Instagram profile and delete all his posts to prevent trolls from using the comment section to spread more hate. Although it has been eight months since the unfortunate incident, it remains a stark reminder of how dangerous cyberbullying can be, especially when orchestrated on social media.
According to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), cyberbullying is a type of bullying that involves the use of digital technologies to spread hateful comments about a person or people.
Unlike physical bullying, which can take place in schools, at work, or even at home, cyberbullying occurs online. Aggressors may use social media, in-game chat rooms, email, and other digital platforms to spread vile statements.
In some instances, individuals go as far as creating anonymous accounts, known as ‘burner accounts’, on social media solely to perpetuate their harmful actions. Cyberbullying is difficult to trace because the bully can mask their identity or location. In some cases, they can easily deactivate their accounts and create new ones to continue their malicious behaviour.
According to UNICEF, cyberbullies may spread lies or post embarrassing photos of their victims to gain attention online. In some cases, they even send threatening private messages to their targets. It is important to note that some overzealous bullies may go beyond the digital realm and confront their victims in person.
While individual social media accounts can be used for cyberbullying, it is also worth mentioning that bloggers have been known to fuel such acts by publishing inaccurate stories about celebrities in a bid to increase their readership.
These acts can have short to long-term effects on the victims. Among the findings on the impacts of cyberbullying based on research by Security.org, it was discovered the targets can start perceiving themselves differently.
Some may grow to hate themselves for a long time. Some may take up unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating and alcoholism just to escape their painful realities. Feelings of low self-worth and insecurity are likely to increase among cyberbullying victims, according to Security.org’s research.
Cyberbullying can have devastating effects on individuals in unimaginable ways. Some victims may withdraw from public interactions and even contemplate suicide as an escape from the constant hate. It can also lead to a breakdown in trust, causing them to distance themselves from family members and close friends, heightening their sense of isolation due to insecurity. In certain instances, victims may turn into bullies themselves, perpetuating the cycle of hatred.
Although Nigeria has some cyberbullying laws under the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, and Enforcement) Act of 2015, the anonymous nature of some accounts on social media makes it difficult to prosecute the online bullies.
Additionally, a cyberbully based in a different state, country, or continent may be difficult to track and prosecute due to the diverse interpretations of cyberbullying by the laws of different countries. Fortunately, social media platforms such as Facebook and X have community guidelines that promote acceptable behaviour. If these guidelines are violated, victims can report offenders to community moderators, who will then review the case and take appropriate action.
One thing the aforementioned platforms including forums like Reddit can do to discourage cyberbullying is continuously reviewing their existing guidelines and making necessary adjustments.
If immediate account suspension followed by a potential life ban is implemented, more online trolls would be less likely to indulge in this practice. Government and non-governmental organisations should coordinate with the victims and offer continuous support via counselling networks and peer support groups.
Initiatives like these will encourage victims to believe that they are not alone, thereby reducing the chances of them considering self-harm. Countries that do not have a cyberbullying law should consider initiating the legislative process to make one as to discourage it in their territories.
The online community can be a beautiful space brimming with resources for everyone, but it can also turn into a nightmare for victims of cyberbullying. The most troubling aspect of cyberbullying is that it pervades virtually every field of life, including sports, fashion, entertainment, and beyond.
While celebrities are often targeted, ordinary people can also become victims. The online community must take responsibility for its safety and work together to put an end to bullying. The internet should be a safe space for people to unwind from the challenges of the real world, not one to flee from due to an unrelenting torrent of negativity.
Michael Akuchie is a tech journalist with four years of experience covering cybersecurity, AI, automotive trends, and startups. He reads human-angle stories in his spare time. He’s on X (fka Twitter) as @Michael_Akuchie & michael_akuchie on Instagram.
Cover photo credit: Bark