More needs to be done to prevent online racism
People can be more inclined to say hurtful comments behind a screen
The mass use of social media has also led to the massive problem of online bullying and harassment. (Austin Kelly)
Social media platforms are the main means of contact and communication for people, offering different perspectives in daily discussions.
However, with this comes cyberbullying, a convenient way of sending threats, offensive photos, and uploading private information without running the risk of being caught. Cyberbullying has negative effects, and many suicide attempts have resulted from people failing to report the bullying to relevant authorities.
When someone is bullied, they may begin to feel humiliated and uncomfortable, which makes them withdraw from spending time with friends and family out of fear of being negatively judged. Staying away from your loved ones and distancing yourself from what you love may lead to negative thoughts and emotions that could seriously harm your mental health.
The Asian community was subjected to online hatred and racism when former United States President Donald Trump repeated the use of the word, “Chinese virus,” during the COVID-19 pandemic. This empowered people to engage in online racism and spread misinformation about the virus, hurting many members of the Asian community.
A nation’s leader should always speak in a language that does not offend any community or affect how others behave toward them.
Online racism doesn’t end here. Youtuber Saji Sharma, posted a video discussing racism against Indians. He describes how when people are asked which race they wouldn’t date, the answer is Indian, which personifies the emerging stereotypes about Indians. Sharma then goes on to encourage people not to stop being themselves because of the hate comments online.
An example of the impacts of cyberbullying was when Indian student Priyanshu Yadav
committed suicide nine days after he posted a video of himself on Diwali showing his saree, embellished with jewellery and makeup.
He received abusive, homophobic comments and threats. This incident had a shocking effect on India’s 2SLGBTQ+ community, and activists raised awareness of the harmful effects cyberbullying can have, in this case on the queer community.
Teens regularly read comments on their direct messages and reply to hateful remarks, which in turn disrupts their peace and mental well-being. If someone is being bullied or knows someone who is being bullied, the first step should be to discuss it with their parents and friends so that the negativity doesn’t harm them and prevents them from isolating themselves.
However, if someone is not comfortable doing so, they should block and report the person on social media, as platforms try to ensure their users’ safety.
Although social media companies are responsible for creating a welcoming environment for their users and should protect them from hateful and racist comments, big tech companies like Meta and X, formerly known as Twitter, have yet to meaningfully respond to the growing issue, despite the number of suicides caused by online racism and discrimination.
Even while social media companies have regulations that allow users to report hate comments, those who spread hate may always create a new account with a different identity and repeat their actions.
To keep users from reading hateful comments, tech companies should allow users to filter what they wish to view or read on their accounts.
