Japanese girl group 9nine, Author Hitoshi 061311 (CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported)
Cyber harassment, like that involving the online influencer Bianca Devins and her family, is defined as the use of electronic technologies (computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices) to distress, stalk, or threaten someone [1][2][3][4A].
“The common factor is the use of technology to establish power and control by causing fear and/or intimidation [4B].”
Online harassment can range from ridicule (cyber bullying, trolling, and dogpiling), the spreading of rumors, and racist rant (hate speech), to the exposure of victims to unwanted sexual or other offensive content (sexual harassment), the dissemination of confidential information or imagery without consent (doxing, sextortion, and revenge porn), impersonation with malicious intent (deepfake), and prolonged surveillance with the intent to intimidate, injure, or kill (cyberstalking).
Victims may experience stress (severe embarrassment, humiliation, etc.), anxiety, hypervigilance, feelings of powerlessness, and fear for their own safety or the safety of loved ones. Performance in school and work suffers. Suicide can result.
The public can protect itself against cyber harassment by using current security software; strong passwords; and regularly updated privacy settings. Personal and location information should never be shared online.
Offenses should be reported to the social media platform, the educational institution or employer (as applicable), and police.
Reality v. Virtual Reality
Multiple issues have been raised by this situation.
Online interactions increasingly blur the distinction between reality and virtual reality.
Online images are easily manipulated, providing fans the illusion of intimacy with someone they do not actually know. The devotion fans have toward today’s Japanese idol singing groups illustrates this [5]. An earlier generation would have relied on gossip columns and fan magazines.
Social media, by its nature, accelerates the sense of intimacy created by online interactions. Real emotions can be generated, often on the basis of mistaken or misleading information.
Obsessive Love
Obsessive love can develop if a follower or fan has mental health issues like low self-esteem or fear of abandonment [6A].
Obsession can cause a follower or fan to fixate on his/her target as though the targeted individual were an object, though no relationship exists at all [6B]. This can result in possessiveness and jealousy, potentially placing the target in genuine danger.
Social Media Regulation
Social media platforms have been criticized for their failure to control the spread of graphic material, both in the United States and overseas [7]. An argument can be made that they have turned a blind eye because of the benefit derived from advertising revenue.
Part of the problem is that social media is incentivized by clicks. Content providers who encounter a graphic image or licentious story face the choice of ignoring it (in the knowledge it will likely go viral), or incorporating and passing it on, in the interest of increasing their readership. The public, therefore, bears some degree of responsibility.
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[1] Fight Cybercrime, “Cyber Harassment”, https://fightcybercrime.org/scams/harassment/cyber-harassment/.
[2] Pen America, Online Harassment Field Manual, “Defining ‘Online Abuse’: A Glossary of Terms”, https://onlineharassmentfieldmanual.pen.org/defining-online-harassment-a-glossary-of-terms.
[3] Durham University, “What is online harassment?”, https://reportandsupport.durham.ac.uk/support/what-is-online-harassment.
[4A and 4B] University of Richmond, “Cyber Harassment”, https://is.richmond.edu/infosec/cyberharassment/index.html.
[5] Wikipedia, “Japanese idol”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_idol.
[6A and 6B] Medical News Today, “What is obsessive love disorder?” by Beth Sissons and Zawn Villines, medically reviewed Janet Brito, PhD, 11/30/23, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/327098.
[7] BBC, “Bianca Devins: The teenager whose murder was exploited for clicks” by Kelly Leigh-Cooper, 7/20/19, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49002486.
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ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Few people realize—often taking it for granted—that the anonymity of being just one among many in a crowd is one of the strongest personal defenses. However, going public inevitably means forfeiting this natural protection, necessitating alternative measures, such as security personnel, to compensate for the loss.
Sadly, going public comes with inherent risks, as it exposes one to a vast and unpredictable mix of people with varying moral and psychological dispositions.
And as implied in this article, the virtual space tends to attract a disproportionate number of individuals struggling in various aspects of their real lives. Unsurprisingly, many of them are mentally volatile, and the anonymity of the online world allows them to reveal their true moral character often without consequence.
Bianca Devins’ tragic death serves as the most heartbreaking reminder of the dangers public figures must constantly consider—whether in the pursuit of their work or simply by virtue of their visibility. 😢
A highly thoughtful comment, Hubert. Well said.
But don’t get me wrong, Anna. I firmly believe that young video bloggers deserve the same level of safety as any other publicly exposed figure. They fall into the same category as journalists and shoyld have the freedom to speak up for whatever they believe in without fear.
Moreover, I strongly believe that no one should be allowed to profit from publishing someone’s tragedy. Any revenue generated by social media platforms from such content should be confiscated and properly redistributed.
I’m not overly pessimistic about the rise of social media and the online space. They have merely accelerated the exposure of evils that have been brewing beneath the surface for centuries. As you mentioned in your article, they are just a more efficient and readily available alternative to traditional paper media.
Some will learn to navigate this landscape and go on living normal lives, while others may unfortunately succumb to online addiction. In the end, this shift will inevitably free up space for those who manage to find a healthy balance.
I sincerely hope you are right, Hubert.
I’m quite certain of it, Anna. The superiority of those who have managed to control their smartphone usage is evident across all ages and professions. Those who remain addicted are slowly but inevitably being sidelined—especially in professional life.
The online world thrives on instant gratification, which, among other things, erodes focus and perseverance—two key factors in achieving both professional success and genuine happiness.
It is really a shame and a loss that so many young people are as attached to their mobiles and social media that they live online and their online existence supersedes their real one. A very good and important post Anna.
Thank you, Francisco. Yes, I think the addiction to social media and life online is destructive.
Without a doubt Anna, it blurs the line between what is real and what is not and what is important from what is trivial.
Parents should have monitoring authority.
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On Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 12:03 AM ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving
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This is very thorough and really deals with the problems associated with cyber harassment and social media
So much of what is written on the subject just skirts around the issues and fails to address root causes
A very useful article
Thank you, Ravishank. I wish I had better solutions to offer.
Add to the equation anonymity, and the toxic flow of social media only seems to escalate.
So right.