Digitalization has modified, changed and transformed all aspects of our lives: from interactions at work, through learning processes to the way we communicate in our environment. And in this evolution, a phenomenon has emerged that is present in our society and that has been little noted: digital violence. The use of various social networks, participation in forums and multiple online platforms has made abuse, harassment and defamation become common problems. Digital violence has come to include the dissemination of personal information without consent, to give an example: cyberbullying and the manipulation of people’s image, is a form of aggression that must be regulated to protect citizens from its effects. harmful.
Octavio Paz, in his essay The Labyrinth of Solitude, tells us that: “Loneliness is the ultimate background of the human condition. “Man is the only being who feels alone and the only one who is searching for another.” This idea reflects the duality of our digital interactions. On the one hand, social networks seek to connect people; but on the other hand, paradoxically they often isolate them. When a human being is a victim of digital violence, advertising, connection or dissemination that was once a hope of being visible to society, becomes a tool of isolation and pain. In the absence of specific regulations, the social and psychological damage of digital violence increases, increasing the gap between citizens.
In the words of Ms. Nazly Borrero, one of the main researchers on Cybersecurity in Latin America: “digital violence represents a significant challenge for the protection of human rights in the online environment. To mitigate this problem, technological tools (such as SafeCity and CyberTipline that allow reporting cases of harassment and cyberbullying) and legislative tools must be implemented that seek to protect victims and punish those responsible.”
Likewise, a truly alarming aspect of digital violence is its speed and scope. An inappropriate video, offensive comment, or manipulated image can spread instantly, reaching thousands of people in a matter of minutes. Jaime Sabines said: “I want to bring out your best self, the one that cannot be seen and can only be felt.” But in the context of digital violence, what should be a tool to show our best selves becomes an instrument to humiliate, expose and shame. This series of events in the Mexican reality show the urgency of creating legislation that regulates the abuse of digital media and establishes sanctions for those who infringe the rights of those who are in vulnerable situations.
Ramón López Velarde, in his legendary Suave Patria, expresses with nostalgia: “Homeland, I give you the key to your happiness: always be the same, faithful to your daily mirror.” Reminding us that in the mirror of our digital society, we must aspire to a respectful, friendly and loyal coexistence. On the other hand, digital violence breaks this harmony, generating a space of fear and uncertainty. Without a Law that regulates these behaviors, we are leaving aside that “key to joy” that López Velarde longed for, sacrificing the dignity of our online interactions.
Digital violence also affects the social well-being and reputation of the victims, often irreversibly. The emotional impact is overwhelming for many, it is common for affected people to be afraid to talk about what they have experienced, which condemns them to a painful silence that accumulates. Octavio Paz reminds us that “in the silence of their soul, men confess that life is madness.” This digital madness, characterized by the lack of limits and the immediacy of communication, forces us to reconsider our norms and values in this new space of social coexistence.
The saying: “create fame and go to sleep” takes on a new meaning in the digital age, where a bad reputation or an attack on networks can haunt a person forever, preventing them from recovering their peace or privacy. Harassment on networks, the dissemination of intimate content without consent and cyberbullying should not be seen as simple “internet things”, but as behaviors that deeply affect human beings and that must be firmly regulated.
The implementation of a Law on Digital Violence would help establish action protocols, offer reporting and protection mechanisms, and provide victims with legal support to confront the harm suffered. Education on the responsible use of digital media, along with clear and fair legislation, is crucial to prevent digital platforms from becoming spaces of abuse and fear.
We need legislation that not only sanctions, but also promotes respect and empathy in the digital environment. Just as Jaime Sabines longed for: “a little faith in things,” we need faith that the Law can protect us and that technology can be a positive force in our lives if used correctly. And so, remember that “the size of love is the size of the enemy,” so that we never let hate overcome kindness in the vast and complex digital universe.
