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Lillee Jean

Online Bullying: Is Blocking Enough? by Lillee Jean | Project: Bullyish 2022


Online Bullying: Is Blocking Enough? by Lillee Jean | Project: Bullyish 2022
Online Bullying: Is Blocking Enough? by Lillee Jean | Project: Bullyish 2022

While all of the above are terrible, there is a distinct difference between them.

Someone who might troll online, for example, possesses the characteristics of someone who is lonely and seeks approval from others, and, is capable of tormenting the victim for a period of 1-5 months. A stalker, however, has a deeper psychosis. They crave to be known, yet not known, and their victim is living prey, sometimes for years, and years on end, until the stalker perhaps snaps, and physically does harm. They "own" their victim. A troll, sometimes hired, views it as midnight entertainment, they do take off, some of the time. A stalker? It's a livelihood.


Someone who bullies online tends to act in a childish mannerism with physical characteristics "picked" on i.e. "you're ugly". There is no dedication, it's black-and-white jealousy. Harassment is when the person starts peering into a person's personal life. It's no longer "you're ugly", it becomes a daily circle of trying to torment and damage the person. Whether that be by creating rumors and spreading them daily, or by not leaving the person alone, period.

Blocking


The reason for explaining these differences is simple. Is blocking really enough in this advanced digital age?

Social media platforms, for example, encourage users to block. So someone called you a name. And? The first step is to block, and never respond.


It is worth it to mention, a one-time offender tends to go away. They're not a stalker, because you were called a name, once. When the line is crossed where harassment, targeted pain, and torment continue, you now have a cyberstalking issue.

However, social platforms lack accountability for one uncomplicated thing. The bulk of online bullying tends to become online harassment, in which the attacker creates multiple profiles to continue the isolated torment. You can block, sure. Even report, sure. The problem arises when you, the user, are suddenly overwhelmed and have no resources or tools at your disposal.


In my opinion, when social media platforms allow you to block someone that's it. No matter what account they create, it should automatically block the location.


Blocking Only Goes So Far

In example:

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