Online harassment is a growing problem in pretty much every country. Unfortunately, it is readily available here in New Zealand too (Netsafe New Zealand, 2025). Netsafe defines online harassment in the following manner: when someone says or does something unkind or unsafe to someone else. When such activities happen on a device, such as a computer or mobile phone, it is called online bullying or cyberbullying.
Netsafe tells us that someone is bullying you online if they:
1. Call you names
2. Say rude, nasty or mean things about you to other people
3. Spread rumours or lies about you to other people
4. Make you feel unsafe
5. Make you feel embarrassed
6. Keep contacting you when you don’t want them to
7. Share pictures or videos of you that you don’t like
8. Pretend to be you.
It is one thing to have a go in social media at organizations or public figures such as Prime Ministers, Ministers, Government Advisers or Members of Parliament. They have to endure invective as part of the job, and indeed some of them can dish it out too. It is another thing entirely when we attack private people.
Trolling
Netsafe defines trolling as sharing, commenting or posting deliberately provocative content to evoke an emotional reaction, create conflict or disrupt conversations. Such behaviour can occur on social media, gaming platforms, forums, comment sections and other online communities.
Trolls often hide behind anonymity, allowing them to engage in offensive or harmful behaviour without facing real-world repercussions. However, in New Zealand some of them are perfectly happy to be recognised publicly. Netsafe tells us that the motivations of trolls range from attention-seeking and entertainment to expressing anger or disdain.
Possibly many of them would deny that their behaviour is poor, and instead see themselves as crusaders who occupy the moral high ground and who are entitled to shut down those who disagree with their views.
Perhaps, some of them feel responsible for safeguarding the "correct" view on a given issue and discrediting any other view. Finally, they may not see themselves as engaging in destructive behaviour simply because others contribute supporting comments on their posts.
While relatively minor in the greater picture of the social and political issues of present-day New Zealand, unfortunately what we see here is symptomatic of very serious problems with social media and within our wider society.
Recent Episodes
A few weeks ago I learned about a private person here in New Zealand who had been attacked online and called variously a liar, a scumbag, a fraud, corrupt, dishonest, a thief, a gaslighter, a cockroach and other names, when in fact there was no wrongdoing and therefore no justification for such invective.
I heard of this episode through an associate of mine and contacted the targeted person through her business website. That person was very upset over what had occurred and was concerned about reputational damage and possible impact on her career.
Unfortunately, the same blogger has attacked other private people online, and her followers amplify the problem by adding literally hundreds of very nasty and hateful comments about the targeted persons.
It does seem very curious that some members of the general public most enthusiastically make potentially damaging comments about other private people who they do not know, without it necessarily being considered defamatory from a legal perspective. It is even more curious that bloggers and their followers get away with their negative behavior, but platforms will not publish the work of anyone who tries to call out such wrongdoing by identifying the offenders, for fear of being sued for defamation.
Perspectives on New Zealand Politics
Sadly, in recent years we have witnessed alarming division within our society – a fracturing of trust and goodwill across communities that can be seen at all levels, including our Parliament and even within political parties. Disagreements over political matters, such as economic policy, social policy or education, have led to increasing rancour and bad feeling, and people lash out at others who hold different opinions through social media.
Surely as adults we can accept that other people hold different views from our own and attempt to influence for the good through reasoned debate.
Every individual or organization that advances with due respect a considered view on any aspect of public life, should have their views considered as part of the greater contest of ideas. But never should anyone’s views be offered in tandem with abuse or denigration of those with whom we disagree, and attacks on private people are strictly unacceptable. Indeed, we have a moral obligation to call out such conduct.
Unfortunately, in our world we do indeed see racism, prejudice and misogyny, and these things are evident across all cultures and all communities. Indeed, some individuals and groups are more at risk and are more vulnerable than others, but here in New Zealand the associated labels are applied very liberally and sometimes cause great damage.
As a longtime Labour and Green voter and supporter, at least until the last election, I am truly ashamed of the extremely poor conduct of some of those with whom I was for so long politically aligned. Of course, we do see similar behavior from elements of the political right.
Do Something About It!
We must model good behaviour and support people who are treated unfairly, while accepting that we may experience limited success in trying to encourage activists and influencers to change their own bad behaviour. Though engaging with them indeed elevates their profiles, I do not believe that the best approach is to ignore them. If we are to achieve any degree of success, they must be challenged.
If you, or someone you know, have been on the receiving end of such abuse, you could try:
https://resource.netsafe.org.nz/Cyberbullying-0925.pdf
This resource gives instructions for logging complaints to Netsafe.
Let’s keep our observations online about others kind and clean. If we have disagreements, then we argue our case strongly but politely, and leave out the stuff that hurts other human beings.
Dr David Lillis trained in physics and mathematics at Victoria University and Curtin University in Perth, working as a teacher, researcher, statistician and lecturer for most of his career. He has published many articles and scientific papers, as well as a book on graphing and statistics.
Reference
Netsafe (2025). Helping New Zealand Stay Safe Online https://netsafe.org.nz/
1 comment:
Dr Lillis has brought up a very serious issue here - trolling and abuse of private individuals. It is rife, it happens to people on all sides of politics, from people on all sides of politics, and targets are both men and women. But it doesn't surprise me that the case focused on here is female. My personal and observed experience suggests that women are targeted more savagely than men (in general terms), mainly because they're more likely to be judged on their appearance (especially) or their assumed private life. On social media, As a woman I haven't used for some years anything showing my appearance; nor do I disclose anything about my private life.
Anonymous trolling is also pervasive. My personal experience of this relates to the pseudonymous guy on X, Holyhekatuiteka, who was going after MP Benjamin Doyle. I made a mild comment on him outside X, and one of his pseudonymous mates trawled the internet for stuff about me, and invited ridicule: some people happily joined in, one finding a photo and saying that I was really a man..... The guy was eventually outed as anti-trans activist Rhys Williams, and then promptly banned me from his account.
Of course, many people have much worse experiences than this. But I think it'll be difficult to achieve change, because the government is afraid of accusations based on 'free speech' grounds that will be mobilised among the many supporters of the Free Speech Union, who can be easily persuaded that any legal changes will bring on Orwell's 1984.
I block quite liberally on social media. I'd also report to Netsafe anything serious. A good idea not to be drawn into futile conflict, however: saw someone lately on X (a man this time) who felt obliged to respond to everything without being personally abusive, and of course it all just escalated.
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