Data from Cybersmile’s 2024 Beyond Likes research reveals that 60% of social media users know someone who has experienced cyberbullying, and 55% have seen someone else cyberbullied or harassed.
The research also shows that 60% of social media users who have experienced cyberbullying or harassment said it negatively affects their mental health. Samantha Zink, CEO and founder of Zink Talent, an influencer and digital creator talent management company, has witnessed the gravity of such online harassment through the influencers she represents.
Cyberbullying affects one’s mental health, notably for influencers who are at the forefront of the digital community. Online abuse can affect a content creator’s mental health so severely, leading to low, suicidal points. The Beyond Likes research found such drastic conditions not unheard of, reporting that 23% of social media users feel that social media has made them unsatisfied with their own lives, and 10% have considered self-harm or suicide due to being cyberbullied or harassed online.
The statistics disclose something grave that should not only be discussed more often but more seriously—why is it not? It seems online abuse and bullying on social media have become too normalized. From its birth to its current, evergrowing state, social media was the perfect place to spew hatred anonymously, avoiding face-to-face backlash. The cesspool of hate manifested into “haters going to hate” and other poppy slogans to slap onto mugs and T-shirts and put into confidence-boosting songs. While a nice sentiment, that only helps so much. Because the words do hurt, and the hate expands beyond the comment section, causing individuals to struggle in their day-to-day lives.
To tackle this issue in the digital community, Zink Talent partnered with The Cybersmile Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to combating cyberbullying and promoting digital well-being. The pair announced the launch of the Beyond Profiles campaign to coincide with Stop Cyberbullying Day on June 21.
In a bid to remind social media users that there are real people behind a profile picture, Zink Talent and Cybersmile sought out The Bachelor’s Sydney Gordon, Sports Illustrated Model Christie Val, and Dream Machine’s Charlie Rocket to share their cyberbullying stories in an intimate, candid way.
The campaign’s short film features the three creators as they share powerful testimonies of experiencing online abuse. Beginning with the three ambassadors, the influencer-led campaign is the start of a long-needed conversation against cyberbullying.
The idea is to subvert the problem that began on social media by combating it on the platforms it originally thrived on. With the use of Zink Talent’s network of influencers, these creators leverage their reach in order to highlight and spread Beyond Profiles’ critical message. The black-and-white short was shared by participating influencers who are, in turn, sharing their story and posting in support of a more positive digital community.
“Cyberbullying has evolved into something even darker than before,” Samantha Zink said. “At Zink Talent, with the support of Cybersmile and other creators, we want to champion influencers and give them the confidence to speak against hate without fear.”
Cybersmile and Zink Talent’s aim with the campaign is to build a community for influencers to sincerely share—not the way they might share with a false smile to their followers to avoid hate, but to share how hostility truly affects them. The goal is to create an intimate and validating space.
The conversation is just the beginning. That is why Beyond Profiles is the first of more installments in the recently announced strategic partnership between Cybersmile and Zink Talent, which will utilize the power of creators to tackle key digital wellbeing-related issues.
Check out the campaign video here.
Published by: Martin De Juan