Cyber Bullying Happens To Adults Too
Interestingly, Sean Cummins of ‘Best job in the world fame’ is talking at Mumbrella 360 on the anonymous blogger and the damage it they can cause. I hope his message gets heard. I wrote on the subject two years ago for The Punch here. The story attracted many comments, mostly telling me to ‘harden up’. There was also one weird comment from Laural Papworth explaining that anonymous negative comments don’t exist online – here’s what she said
“I have thousands and thousands of comments – and only about 4 negative ones given anonymously. My clients – journalists, governments, global companies – that are building online communities don’t have an issue with negative anonymous comments, in fact the comments are 80% positive, 20% neutral…”.
This kind of ‘head-in-the-sand’ social media is soooooo great and beyond reproach is, I believe, damaging. The story was repeated on Campaign Brief, an advertising blog, where once again the results were hardly supportive. This was the typical response:
“Whinging about negative comments is still whinging. Count your blessings pops, or sail on home.”
I’m glad Sean is raising the issue, and I hope intelligent empowered policy makers develop policy and laws to regulate the damaging behaviours that exist on the Internet. Anonymity, if left unchecked will always result in abhorrent behaviour.
For the first time last week a cyber bully has pleaded guilty to causing the suicide of his victim. Things, I suspect will be changing quickly.
Fritz Bachen is a Consumer Psychologist and Founding Partner at Naked Communications. Fritz can be seen, read or heard at; The Gruen Transfer, ABC Radio (Sunday nights), Adnews columnist, as well as The Australian, Cleo, Mumbrella, Shop Till You Drop and so on. He speaks at numerous conferences on marketing, ideas, contemporary culture, and consumer behaviour. Fritz has degress in clinical psychology and commerce (marketing). A registered psychologist and has worked in private practice, forensic settings, advertising (Saatchi & Saatchi) and marketing consultancy (Added Value). He was also state under 12 chess champion on WA, and has a board game called The Analyst selling well in the Benelux countries.
Comments
Ken
Jun 5th, 2011It is unfortunate that there isn't a recognition that the result is that nice intelligent people remove themselves from that part of the internet. It happens also with e-mail lists, even with people who aren't anonymous. For some people once the risk that there will be an unpleasant situation is removed they just can't keep their opinions to themselves.
Fritz Bachen
Jun 12th, 2011hi ken agree. The opinions get left to those with thick skins, or who love the limelight.
If the meek are going to inherit the earth then social media needs to be regulated.
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Jun 16th, 2011Well I guess this is what it is and as much as we want to talk about privacy the reality is if one wants privacy, get away from Social Networks (at least for now)
Fritz Bachen
Jun 26th, 2011@cna classes well put!
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