Imagine if your classmates and roommates believed you were some kind of lowly role—that would be terrifying! Such a “terrorist attack” has actually happened to some innocent university girls.
A screenshot of a group chat recruiting lowly roles went viral on campus, with many people eagerly “applying.” Some girls saw their own avatars listed as “applicants” in the comments, but they had no idea about it.
A total of fifteen girls were caught up in this defamation storm, with their reputations smeared by false rumors and detailed fake chat records spreading wildly on campus.
If I Can’t Have It, I’ll Destroy It
This incident is strikingly similar to the high-profile cases where wealthy individuals publicly humiliate female internet celebrities: when their pursuit fails, they resort to destroying their target. Online bullies often use threats, humiliation, and revenge when they are enraged by rejection.
This revenge comes unexpectedly. A girl’s casual refusal or disinterest can provoke retaliation. The most terrifying part is that the perpetrators hide in the shadows, using minimal effort and simple tactics to cause the victim immense pain.
Know Your Enemy
First, understand the psychology of online bullies. Their malicious retaliation often stems from the humiliation and anger of being rejected. The idea of pursuing someone and being rejected shouldn’t be a big deal, but some people lose control and retaliate against the girl.
This teaches us a valuable lesson: when rejecting someone’s advances, avoid provoking them. Opt for polite, simple cold treatment. These “crazy” and easily angered advances are not normal pursuits but rather driven by lust and desperation. Therefore, in online dating, one should be highly vigilant of these explicit solicitations.
Even if it feels gross, a tactful and methodical rejection can reduce the chances of provoking the other person. Rejections should be clear, rational, and straightforward, without emotional expressions or explanations. Any softness or roundaboutness is seen as fuel to the fire by these pursuers.
Use a Separate Account for Online Dating
I strongly recommend using a separate account for online dating and not revealing any personal information until a trustworthy relationship is established. Because bad actors can easily cause you social death with just a commonly used profile picture, there is a need to take precautions.
In this severe environment, the first step in prevention is to create a separate account specifically for online dating, completely isolated from your work, family, and classmates.
Tips
Create a separate account for online dating, using an anonymous profile picture and a pseudonym. Do not post any personal updates or location tags. Only add new friends through this separate account.
Using a fully anonymous account prevents the other person from infiltrating your real-life social network and finding any leverage to threaten you, thus avoiding the risk of social death.
Manage Your Chat Content Carefully
Don’t send nudes! Don’t engage in explicit conversations! I’ve said this many times. But even in today’s world, crimes are evolving. Nudes are no longer the only risk; even sending a regular photo can be dangerous. During the early stages of getting to know someone, avoid sending any identifiable photos. The other person might use facial recognition or AI to alter images.
Also, when conversations become intimate, try to leave no trace. Opt for voice calls instead of texting. Sensitive chat records can become tools for blackmail and public shaming.
Tips
- Do not reveal your address, activity locations, school, major, or workplace during chats.
- Do not send nudes; avoid sending identifiable photos.
- Try to avoid giving the other person any sensitive content in the chat records.
Preventing social death is the first step to safely enjoying online communities. To sum it up: you can be adventurous, but don’t let the bad guys know it’s you!
I hope you smart cookies can apply these tips and stay safe and happy!
Leave a Reply