The practice of online trolling, which is extremely wicked and at times very harsh, has brought about the death of another person and has caused a huge loss in Maharashtra. The young man did not wish to be identified as his family needed security, but he was a very unfortunate victim of a social media bullying case that eventually pushed him to take his own life.
Though the young man’s decision to end his life came after a very sincere and heartfelt public apology from the girl involved, it was nonetheless a very tragic incident. The initial video which showed the young women urinating in public, was a passing moment, a slip of judgment, but it was taken by the netizens, whose power knows no boundaries, and turned an instant of fun into a never-ending marathon of public humiliation.
Instead of just an apology, which was supposed to be the end of the chapter, it drew the attention of a new wave of abuse that very clearly illustrated the failure of society to adopt the virtues of empathy and tolerance in the digital world. This instance is a proof of the fact that when the digital world is cruel and people are not, the result is nothing less than catastrophe in the real world.
Digital Mob Justice and Mental Health
The young individual who tangled himself up with the digitized mob justice that was on the rise underwent very tough times with the psychological suffering which he considered his situation as a crisis of behavior in the internet world and its impact on mental health. He acknowledged his mistake and apologized openly; however, he still got a lot of negative comments, personal attacks, and laughing images directed at him.
The never-ending attack, which occasionally contained threats and doxxing, put him in a state of mind where he was feeling crushed and trapped in depression. According to the specialists, for the persons who are already suffering from emotional weakness, this type of ongoing digital aggression can be no less than a factor leading to acute distress and eventually self-injury. The quickness and ubiquity of the viral shame attack could wipe out life, career, and self-respect in a matter of hours.
Call for Online Empathy, Accountability
This tragic story is a grim reminder of the urgent need to invoke empathy online and to take responsibility for one’s words. The collective nature of trolling provided a sense of righteousness among participants, thereby making it easier to give pain without considering the human cost. Social networks now have to take firmer steps against persistent and malicious trolling-beyond merely deleting offensive posts, banning repeat offenders is key to preventing an atmosphere of toxicity.
Secondly, this incident requires that society pays more attention to the issues of digital literacy and moral responsibility of every user. The society has to be aware that behind each viral post, there is a real person, and an error-a well-apologized one does not warrant a life sentence of digital condemnation.
A recent media graduate, Bhumi Vashisht is currently making a significant contribution as a committed content writer. She brings new ideas to the media sector and is an expert at creating strategic content and captivating tales, having working in the field from past four months.
