By Sharifah Batrisyia
GOMBAK, 7 August 2021: The fifth series of #YouMatter hosted by IIUMtv invited a discussion on the increasing cases of cyberbully due to the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) last year which resulted in an increased number of users on the internet.
The speakers were sister Nadia Mizan, a psychology officer from Counselling and Career Service Unit (CCSU), along with Ammar Azriman, a police inspector of Bukit Aman special branch and Syasya Madu, host of #YouMatter and also a survivor of cyberbullying.
According to Ammar, the police received over 3,000 police reports on cyberbullying in 2019 and the number had increased by over 10% in 2020 as many Malaysians were forced to stay at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The freedom of expression on the internet has no bounds, including criticising others who can indirectly turn into bullying. The anonymity of the internet which allows users to hide behind the screens has made the act of bullying more damaging as the users feel like they are not responsible for what they can say on social media nor will they be held accountable for their actions online.
“Cyberbullying is a repetitive act as users of the internet can be both the bully and the victim. We, ourselves can be the perpetrator of a cyberbully. That is why it is so important for us to be cautious on what we write or say on social media and stop this dangerous cycle,” Nadia said.
Cyberbully can negatively impact the mental health of the victim as it can cause anxiety, depression and in some severe cases, suicide thoughts on victims.
Nadia stated, “Cyberbullying is worse than the physical act of bullying because of the way the internet is. The perpetrator can use the user’s personal data (that can easily be obtained due to social media) to mock or threaten the victim.”
The lack of consequence and accountability also increases the entertainment for some users to incite bullying online. The bully does not receive an immediate punishment for his bullying compared to real life bullying.
“The punishment for cyberbullying is not as heavy as the punishment for other crimes even though the outcome of both acts may be the same,” argued Ammar.
Cyberbully is a disgusting crime with little punishment in this country. It is up to us to stop this dangerous cycle of bullying as it affects us and our loved ones’ mental health. One of the ways to stop cyberbully is by being considerate of our words and actions before posting something online.
As Nadia says, “Be kind and considerate of your words when you are on social media because we never know what others are going through.”
If you find yourself to be a victim of a cyberbully, you can lodge a report at Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or an online report at https://www.skmm.gov.my/en/home.
This event is a collaboration between IIUMtv, Council of Principals (COPS), Counselling and Career Services Centre (CCSC), IIUMTODAY, IIUMFM, Secretariat of Psychology (PSYCSTA), Kulliyyah of Language and Management Students’ Society (KLMSS), Allied Health Science Students’ Society (HEALS), Bachelor of Education Students’ Society (BEDSA) and Islamic Revealed Knowledge Students’ Society (IRKHSSS).***