Since the GO! published its coverage of cyber bullying at schools in East London on September 8, another parent has come forward alleging her daughter has been targeted online.
A local mother said she became aware of the cyber bullying when her daughter was made the target of sexist and inflammatory posts published by an Instagram account called @el_hoere_.
She said that similarly to the previous parent, her daughter had been the target of online abuse before and that it had severely impacted her academic and social development.
The perpetrator of the previous online bullying incident was identified, yet social workers could only advise that parents implement harsher restrictions to curtail online activity. When the bullying attempts resurfaced, she reached out to other mothers for support.
“We just decided as mothers that enough is enough and we took it to the authorities and we are still waiting to hear the outcome of their investigations,” she said.
She further added: “It is so easy for these claims to spread far and wide online. That initial bullying incident she experienced still affects her life today and she still lives out the consequences of what people have labelled her as online.
“Social media labels you for life and now this latest bullying proves how true that is. People online won’t let you grow beyond the label they give you — you always have to be defined by the past and that is what is happening to my child.”
Media law expert Carla de Beer said: “You [parents] can approach the school if it is a child in the same school as your child who is initiating the bullying.
“Kids need to understand that according to the Child Justice Act, you have full criminal capacity from the age of 14.
“The Cybercrimes Act also states that if you send any message that threatens someone, that says you are going to hurt them or invite violence or threaten to damage their property, you are liable to a fine or six months’ imprisonment.
“You [parents] can obtain a protection order in accordance with the Protection from Harassment Act as well, if the bullying or abuse does not stop,” she said.
Representative from the department of basic education Malibongwe Mtima said the department was in the process of completing a digital/online learning guide that would touch on cyber bullying.
But in the interim, schools are advised to strengthen their internal ICT policies and ensure that counsellors are on hand to assisted students experiencing online bullying.
Considering that the content posted from the accounts draws from sexism, rape culture and stereotypes, Anelisa Jezile, a social worker from Masimanyane Women’s rights international, advises that schools and parents strengthen comprehensive sexuality education as well as initiate school policies that condemn violence online and that is enforced fairly so everyone, from teachers to students, take full responsibility for their actions.
