www.medialiteracycouncil.sg
Cyber-lynching? Me?
Have you ever posted unkind remarks about someone just because everyone else is doing it, even though
you may be only seeing the story from one perspective or you don’t really know the full context of the
matter?
Online, social networks like Face and Twitter have enabled us to connect, share and do things as a group.
But unfortunately, people don’t often think or consider the impact of their actions and often hide behind
the “everyone is also doing it” mentality to share posts to condemn other people.
What is Cyber-lynching?
Such group-think or group-action, especially when it is done by a group of people who feel they are
justified in their actions to condemn another person is known as Cyber-lynching.
The Oxford dictionary defines “lynch” as the behavior when a group of people “kill (someone) for an
alleged offence without a legal trial,”1, while the Cambridge Dictionaries Online, defines a lynch mob is “a
group of people who want to attack someone who they think has committed a serious crime”2.
When someone posts something negative about another person, we sometimes are quick to jump to
conclusions and side with the post originator. Before we know it, a lynch mob has formed and the poor
victim finds that he/she has no way to clear to the air because no one is listening and everyone is
“throwing stones”.
Victims of Cyber-lynching
Imagine how you would feel if you are a victim of a lynch mob? Mean, cruel words are hurled at you, not
to mention vulgarities. Sometimes, people will trawl for information about you - such as your photos,
your place of work or school - and put them up for all to see and encourage others to flame or stalk you.
Would you feel threatened and scared? Would your life be turned upside down?
Perhaps you did do something wrong, like posting an insensitive rant (which can be considered racist) in
the heat of the moment (remember Amy Cheong). Perhaps it was a case of mistaken identity, just like the
case of a youth who was lynched online when people saw photos of a person who looked like him abusing
cats. Or perhaps as in the case of a famous blogger, she was flamed and abused online simply because
people disagreed with her political leanings. In all of these cases, many people poured scorn, heaped
abusive and cruel remarks and pronounced judgement – in a bid to punish the person in question for an
alleged offence. But, many of these actions take place even before the truth of the matter is investigated
and revealed.
1
Oxford Dictionaires. “lynch”. Oxforddictionaries.com. Oxford University Press. N.d. web. 17 Dec 2012. <
http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/lynch?q=lynch+ >
2
Cambridge Dictionaries Online. “lynch mob”. dictionary.cambridge.org. Cambridge University Press. N.d. web. 17 Dec 2012.<
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/lynch-mob>
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www.medialiteracycouncil.sg
People are quick to condemn because they feel empowered to give their opinions on the many social
networking websites. They want to be part of a group who appears to be online vigilantes in the supposed
pursuit of betterment for mankind. It’s good to want to do something for a better world. But it’s another
thing altogether if we are just going with the flow, pronouncing judgement even before we get our facts
correct, or simply because we disagreed with someone’s views, even if they are unpopular views.
Where do we draw the line in voicing our opinions on the Internet?
The online world will be a better place if everyone can take a step back and apply the Golden Rule of
Reciprocity: “Treat others the way you want others to treat you.”
Some tips for the responsible user in you:
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
Think before you post. There is no need to jump onto the
bandwagon and follow in the footsteps of what other online
users are doing. Acting fast and being part of the online flow may
seem cool but may not necessary be right.

Hold your judgment. Do not jump to conclusions too quickly
even before the truth of the matter is out. What if the truth is
totally different from what everyone thinks it would be? Words
already spoken cannot be unspoken. Harm and damage caused
by an erroneous online witchhunt cannot be undone. Do your
research and find concrete evidence before you take any action.