The recent harassment of Tanya Manhenga, a participant on the well-known dating program Love Island, has brought internet hate speech to light once more.
On social media, fans of the program have encouraged people to “be nice” and to support Tanya.
This is a positive reaction to the damaging and sometimes unrelenting harassment that people can experience online.
Always keep in mind that every social media account belongs to a real person who has feelings and emotions.
As we would in our in-person contacts, we should all work to be more sympathetic and kind online.
Also, it is critical that social media corporations accept accountability and put policies in place to stop and address hate speech on their platforms.
It is everyone’s duty to make the internet a safer and more compassionate place since the effects of online bullying and abuse may be catastrophic and long-lasting.
A little compassion may go a long way, as the Love Island viewers have shown.
