TW: mental health. ayo sis, this week we talk about bullying, an experience i am all too familiar with. my experience predates social media and the digital age, though social media has definitely allowed for an increase in the accessibility and ease of bullying. it should also be noted, the example i provide, is only one, but it deals with the issue of siblings as bullies, like the story referenced in boyd’s chapter.
Once upon a time, in a land not so far away, there lived some trolls. these trolls had bright colourful hair and gems for belly buttons. The trolls were happy creatures and loved to share their passion of music. They definitely did not look like this guy VVV
It’s a sad fact of life, people will experience bullying and hate from both our peers and those we don’t know.
In reading boyd’s piece on social media and bullying, wouldn’t it be interesting if Facebook implemented a feature where parent’s could set up their child’s account as a sub-account to their own, where they can actively monitor their children’s activities, like Abigail and Ashley’s mom did (2014). oof. that would go down well in the super religious homophobic states in America.
I can relate to Abigail. 18 (ish) years ago, I was ostracised by my older sister when we would go on holidays. Every year. As opposed to being a happy kid running around making friends and being a ‘normal’ child, I spent most of my days either playing video games in our caravan, or spending time with my grandparents, cross-stitching or doing crosswords. I am and was the epitome of a social butterfly, and have the social anxiety disorder to prove it.
Last year’s Vidcon Australia featured a panel on trolling in a digital community. Specifically, how to not “feed” them. In the panel, the featured creators, spoke about dealing with criticisms in an online environment. Which included talking though the criticisms that are affecting you the most with someone you trust. (HeyoDamo 2017) It’s great to see leaders in the community working towards building a better environment for all users. keep up the good work fam.
boyd, d 2014, “is social media amplifying meanness and cruelty?” in it’s complicated - the social lives of networked teens, pp 128-52.
HeyoDamo 2017, VIDCON AUSTRALIA 2017 VLOG, Youtube Video, viewed 20 April 2017, <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVwETBA1S28>
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