Let's rein in online bullies; they have no mercy even for children

Technology-enabled bullying has pushed people into depression, cost others their jobs, ruined families, silenced otherwise vibrant bubbly people and in the worst cases, driven others to suicide. [iStockphoto]

Ordinarily, my line of career would have me oppose the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes (Amendment) Act, 2025 in its entirety. But I digress. When a 13-year-old child who has just lost a parent feels compelled to come online to plead with adults to stop bullying her grieving family, maybe the Act is long overdue. The line between what we once considered freedom of expression and sheer cruelty are frighteningly blurry today.

I have, for a long time, held the thought that morals cannot be policed. That they are a heart issue, a reflection of a personal decay that requires redemption far beyond legislation. But if what we witness online every day is anything to go by, perhaps morals alone may not suffice. Maybe we need to start holding people accountable for the things they casually throw in the digital space.