By Dafinah binti Shazli Hasbi
INTRODUCTION
The rapid advancement of today’s technology has opened many doors to possibilities such as access to modern knowledge, employment opportunities, and ease in our daily lives. However, technology can be seen as a double-edged sword, which can bring harm instead of benefits if being utilised carelessly. Among the most famous ways to abuse the use of technology is to cyberbully others in social media like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. While it is generally accepted that cyberbullying means causing harm to others through electronic devices, we need to take a look at experts’ definitions to delve deeper into the topic. According to a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets.As reported by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, cyberbullying can come in many forms, like negative online posts and stalking others’ social media accounts.
In Malaysia, we do not have a specific statute regulating cyberbullying, but we already have existing laws such as the Computer Crimes Act 1997 and the Penal Code that criminalise certain online acts when they cause harm or injury. For example, under Section 3 of the Computer Crimes Act 1997, having unauthorised access to computer data amounts to an offence and if such unauthorised access is utilised to harm someone, it constitutes an offence under Section 4. Looking at a wider perspective, the United States of America have enacted cyberbullying statutes which are available under the law of tort. This enactment was put into effect when Megan Meier, who suffered from depression, committed suicide due to harsh words from her friend’s mother, posing as a fictional character. Josh. Among the torts covered in the statutes are defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, the prima facie tort, and state statutes. To understand why this issue is spreading like wildfire, it is essential to examine the root of the problem. This article will discuss on circumstances that are contributing to the increase of this topic.
WHY IS SOCIETY HOMOGENISING CYBERBULLYING IN DAILY LIVES?
In this part, we will analyse intricately each factor and provide a solution to mitigate the influence of cyberbullying in our society. The main factor we can observe is that social media is seen as a moral escape where people can say anything and get away with it due to anonymity and the creation of multiple fake accounts on one social platform. They believe the authority would not waste time pursuing this kind of issue because many people are posting hate comments and threats, thus planting the idea that this kind of behaviour is normal and acceptable, while it should not even exist in the first place. This mindset will deteriorate and give them a sense of invisibility, knowing they would not be punished severely.
This is evident through the incident that happened in Malaysia, where Rajeswary Appahu, commonly known as Esha, as her TikTok handle, committed suicide after receiving hate comments and harassment from Shalini Periasamy or @alphaquinnsha, on TikTok during her TikTok livestream. After bringing this case to court, Shalini was sanctioned to an RM 100 fine as punishment. This case sparked debates among citizens and stimulated the government to criminalise cyberbullying and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions. This also proves that the law enforcement pertaining to cyberbullying is weak and the absence of a distinct statute on cyberbullying created a gap in handling this escalating fear.
To tackle this challenge successfully, we could urge the legislative body to enact a separate law encompassing cyberbullying to properly address this matter. This initiative is likely to mandate accountability because the statute provides a clear definition of what actions are considered cyberbullying, so the enforcement agencies can act accordingly.
Additionally, the tendency to condemn people without any further research could spike the rate of cyberbullying. Nowadays, people believe anything without a doubt, except that they do not care about the authenticity of the news; they only want to participate in the mass online condemnation. This is reflected in the occurrence between Malaysia-based Singaporean actor Dato’ Aaron Aziz and Malaysian content creator Sharina Richie. The essence of what happened is that Sharina Richie took a video in which he comments on Gaza, allegedly taken out of context, causing controversy among Malaysians and eventually him being cyberbullied. This further proves that the public is being selective about the kind of media they consume, to the point where it no longer matters if it causes harm to others.
To prevent this from worsening, the government need to educate the public on ethical digital literacy by organising talks and campaigns to spread awareness about the dangers of spreading misinformation and methods to verify the legitimacy of news.
CONCLUSION
In today’s technological development, it is crucial to realise that cyberbullying is not a mere hoax or something to be taken lightly because it can lead to severe mental illness like depression, suicidal thoughts, and tarnish reputation. Every entity from the government, schools, non-profit organisations even parents play a huge role in moulding our future leaders to build a safe environment where we can live in peace and harmony.
REFERENCES
Abdul Hadi, Eddino. “Singapore actor Aaron Aziz to take legal action in Malaysia after Gaza comments controversy.” The Straits Times, October 8, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/singapore-actor-aaron-aziz-to-take-legal-action-in-malaysia-after-gaza-comments-controversy.
Computer Crimes Act 1997
Denis Binder, “A Tort Perspective on Cyberbullying.” Chapman Law Review 19, no. 2 (2016)
Khong, Ling Qi, Natasha L Jayasinghe, and Maisarah Afifah Azunan. “Legal Review: Law Governing Cyberbullying & Cyber Attacks in Malaysia.” azmilaw.com, November 13, 2024. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.azmilaw.com/insights/legal-review-law-governing-cyberbullying-cyber-attacks-in-malaysia/.
National Cybersecurity Alliance. “Cyberbullying.” staysafeonline.org, June 1, 2022. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.staysafeonline.org/articles/cyberbullying.
Shukry, Anisah. “TikTok user’s death sparks Malaysia clampdown on cyberbullying.” The Star, July 18, 2024. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.thestar.com.my/tech/tech-news/2024/07/18/tiktok-users-death-sparks-malaysia-clampdown-on-cyberbullying.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “What Is Cyberbullying.” stopbullying.gov, October 7, 2024. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it.
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