Bullying has always been a painful trial for many, a shadow over formative years. But the bullying I experienced growing up in a small French town is nothing compared to what young people face today online. Back then, bullying had physical and social limits. Today, it has no boundaries and no end.
A Personal Experience of Bullying
As a child growing up in a small French town, I became the target of relentless teasing and bullying, even though I had done nothing to provoke it. My father’s sister had married the son of the casino owner — a prominent figure in the community. Despite the fact that this connection had nothing to do with my family directly, we were unfairly labeled as “the rich ones.” This misplaced judgment fueled resentment, ridicule, and, eventually, bullying.
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At school and in the community, I faced teasing, insults, and even physical confrontations. Yet, there was a key difference between bullying then and now: back then, there was a way to confront it. Every time I stood up to my bullies — even if I lost a fight — it sent a clear message that I wouldn’t be an easy target. And, in most cases, that was enough to put a stop to it. Bullying, though painful, had an endpoint.
Why This Is No Longer Possible
Today, online bullying eliminates the possibility of resolution. Social media platforms provide a stage where harassment can continue anonymously, relentlessly, and publicly. Unlike physical confrontations, which naturally end, online attacks are amplified with every like, comment, or share. The victim has no way to stand up and say, “Enough,” because bullies hide behind screens, and their audience only magnifies the cruelty.
The Unique Dangers of Online Bullying
Online bullying is crueler than what I experienced in two key ways:
- Permanence: An insult or rumour on social media doesn’t disappear. It remains accessible, visible, and can resurface at any time, forcing victims to relive their humiliation repeatedly.
- Amplification: Where a confrontation at school was witnessed by a handful of people, an online attack can reach thousands within minutes. The shame becomes public and global.
The Responsibility of Platforms and Legislation
Governments, like Australia recently, are trying to address the issue by introducing laws such as prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media. While well-meaning, these laws are challenging to enforce. Meanwhile, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat must also take responsibility by better moderating their content, protecting vulnerable users, and limiting abuse of their tools. They have a duty of care to ensure their platforms are not breeding grounds for harm.
What Can We Do?
To combat online bullying, we must adopt a collective approach:
- Governments: Strengthen laws to protect vulnerable users.
- Platforms: Develop robust tools to detect and eliminate toxic behaviours.
- Parents and Schools: Teach children how to protect themselves online, while fostering empathy and understanding of consequences.
Conclusion
The bullying I faced was harsh, but it had limits. Today, with social media, those limits are gone. Tackling online bullying requires a global effort where everyone — lawmakers, platforms, educators, and parents — plays a vital role. Together, we can transform these digital tools, designed to connect people, into safe spaces where cruelty has no place.
The author Rene Philippe Dubout is a Swiss lawyer specializing in providing support to Fintech companies. He can be contacted at insight@fintechlex.com – www.fintechlex.com – www.fintechsetup.com
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