definitelyone of humanity’s most remarkable achievements is the World Wide Web, which has revolutionized global communication and information sharing in ways that seemed like science fiction just a few decades ago.
But along with its benefits, this technology also exposes us to harsh realities. Online trolling, bullying, and stalking have become pervasive problems, making the lives of victims unbearable and, in some cases, uninhabitable.
The growth of the digital age has fostered unprecedented connectivity, but it has also ushered in a new era of online adversity that has permeated our digital environment.
The internet has become a haven for many forms of abuse, including transphobia, stalking, and cyberbullying, which cause serious harm to individuals.
It is essential to be aware of the many dangers that exist on the Internet. Online threats include a wide range of malicious acts aimed at harming individuals or groups.
One of the most common forms of bullying is cyberbullying. Cyberbullying involves an individual using an Internet platform to harass, threaten, or degrade another person. Another insidious form is stalking. It uses vast databases of personal information readily available online to relentlessly follow, monitor, and harass individuals.
Furthermore, the prevalence of discriminatory and hate speech, including transphobia, further pollutes online spaces and fosters an environment in which marginalized individuals are more likely to be excluded and vulnerable. This raises the question of why certain individuals feel courageous to express offensive sentiments on the Internet. Do people feel that there is impunity to behave in certain ways online, but don’t they choose to act offline?
What makes internet abuse possible? The digital environment gives perpetrators a false sense of anonymity and detachment, leading them to actively engage in behaviors that they would avoid in face-to-face interactions. .
It’s easy to create multiple personas online and hide your identity, making it difficult to hold individuals accountable for their actions.
Furthermore, because of the immediacy and far-reaching nature of online communication, harmful speech can spread rapidly to large audiences, which can have a significant impact on the victim’s mental health and overall well-being. This amplifies the impact of online abuse.
Addressing and intervening in such situations requires a deep understanding of the underlying psychology of online abuse.
Perpetrators on the Internet often exhibit tendencies that are aggressive, narcissistic, or greedy for power and control. They act on these impulses with impunity due to the anonymity of the Internet, and may derive satisfaction from the suffering they inflict on others.
Moreover, the lack of immediate retaliation for their actions reinforces their actions and perpetuates a cycle of abuse that is difficult to break.
We need to understand that the Internet reflects society in all its complexities and flaws. The frequency of abuse online reflects larger social issues such as bias, inequality, and structural injustice.
In addition to technical solutions, addressing the challenges associated with the Internet requires cultural changes as well. Educating individuals about digital citizenship and promoting empathy and respect in online interactions is fundamental to building safer and more inclusive online communities.
Professor Andy Phippen argues that “the Internet is just a collection of cables, wires, and routers; there is no dark side.” Rather, the Internet reflects the negative aspects of society.
In the fight against Internet abuse, technical solutions are as important as social measures. Implementing strong content management methods and reporting systems can help you effectively identify and mitigate harmful behavior.
Additionally, stronger data security and privacy controls can help individuals protect their online identities and reduce the potential for misuse. The successful development and implementation of these solutions will depend on collaboration between IT companies, legislators, and civil society.
Artificial intelligence (AI), with its ability to analyze large amounts of data and detect patterns indicative of harmful behavior, holds promise as a tool to combat online abuse.
AI-powered content moderation systems can automatically detect and remove harmful information, reducing the workload of human moderators and increasing the effectiveness of response systems.
However, AI comes with inherent limitations and ethical considerations that need to be addressed. To reduce bias and unintended consequences, it is important to subject AI systems to rigorous testing, review, and training on diverse datasets.
Effectively addressing the widespread problem of online abuse requires multidisciplinary strategies that incorporate sociological, psychological, and technological aspects.
By understanding the root causes of online harassment, empowering individuals to protect themselves, and wisely deploying technology, we can strive to create a safer and more inclusive digital environment.
This remains a top priority and cross-sector collaboration is essential to implement comprehensive solutions that uphold the principles of justice, decency and respect in online interactions.
The author is a Professor at the Faculty of Computing and Information Studies at Tenaga State University, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Chartered IT Professional, a Fellow of the Malaysian Science Society, a Senior Member of the IEEE, and a Professional Engineer at MBOT Malaysia. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
