“Young children are exposed too early. At least from 16, people have already developed who they are and want to be.” Thorpe admitted dealing with negativity was overwhelming at first. “By now, I make a joke out of it, or laugh.
If people see you laugh it off, the hate decreases. Now and then, when I do get a hate comment, I simply block it.” Security expert Mike Bolhuis strongly supports restricting access for minors, warning that cyberbullying has escalated into a pervasive crisis in South Africa. “About 40% of pupils experience some form of bullying and roughly one in three teenagers are victims of cyberbullying,” he said.
Unlike physical bullying, the scars are invisible, but the damage is psychological and lasting. Victims face mocking memes, public shaming, harassing messages and non‑consensual sharing of images. Mental health professionals caution that such harassment can lead to anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, isolation and lifelong trauma.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
