Just a comment, just a share: What could possibly go wrong?
We live in a fast-moving world with access to almost everything. One of the most important advancements that has happened in technology is social media. Today, almost nothing feels possible without it. The internet has advanced so much that ordering food, booking tickets for movies, trains, and flights, shopping, paying bills online, banking facilities and much more have become incredibly convenient. We can access news within split seconds and no longer need to wait for the news to be broadcasted in TV or the morning newspaper.
Social media has made everyone’s life easier and quicker. In many ways, it has great advantages when used properly.
But as it is said, there are two sides to a coin—social media also has its own harmful effects on society. One of the most relevant and growing issues is social media harassment. As people have started sharing their personal lives with the world, it has become easier for others to know what is going on in someone else’s life and give their opinions without considering the consequences of their words. It has become so common for people to judge others quickly and come to conclusions based on a single video clip or photo.
But behind the quick likes, shares, and comments, there’s also a darker side. Social media has become a space where people often face hurtful words, trolling, and even threats from strangers. What once felt like a safe space to express ourselves now sometimes feels unsafe and overwhelming. In this blog, I want to talk about what social media harassment really is and how the law in India tries to protect people from it.
What is social media harassment?
The use of abusive language, threats, trolling, stalking, and other harmful behavior through various online platforms is what we call social media harassment. I have personally seen people go as far as threatening someone and their family just to express their anger after an unpleasant event.
These days, many people feel that since they’re not visible or directly accountable online, they can say anything to anyone without fear of consequences. Unfortunately, cyber laws related to social media harassment are still developing, and the lack of awareness among the public allows such culprits to hide while they damage someone’s life.
Yes, everyone has the right to express their opinions — but no one has the right to pass judgment on someone else’s life. There have been cases where people were harassed to the point of ending their own lives just because they didn’t meet others’ expectations.
Many are now afraid to upload their videos or photos because of the fear of being judged based on their skin colour, body size, height, facial features, appearance, financial background, and many other personal traits.
Types of harassments
Social media harassment comes in many forms : from trolling and body shaming to spreading false information, creating fake profiles, and even sending inappropriate messages. One heart-breaking example I came across was of a girl who scored really well in the NEET exam. Instead of being appreciated for her hard work, she was mocked online because she had a moustache — something that was a result of PCOD. People started trolling her, making memes, passing rude comments, and judging her looks without knowing her story. It was extremely disheartening to see how her achievement was completely ignored, and the focus shifted to something so personal and sensitive. This is exactly where social media fails us — when it becomes a platform not for support, but for tearing someone down.
Trolling culture in India
One thing that has become really common in India is trolling someone over what they said or did. Yes, what they said might not always be right, but trolling them just to get likes and comments is not something to be proud of. People often forget to think about the consequences of their words. What’s worse is that others enjoy watching these troll videos — as if someone’s embarrassment is a form of entertainment.
Memes start flooding in, and people don’t hold back from making fun of someone’s most vulnerable or awkward moments. Sometimes, they even go as far as threatening to expose those moments to the public. All of this falls under social media harassment.
That’s why, nowadays, it feels like we always have to be cautious — of what we say, how we sit or stand, how we speak, where we look, or even how we dress. If not, someone somewhere might start judging, trolling, or turning it into a meme.
Legal remedies against social media harassment
Social media harassment is a punishable offence under Indian law. Various legal remedies are available to victims, not only to punish the offenders but also to protect themselves from further harassment. There are various legal provisions available to the victim.
1. Filing a Police Complaint
The victim can file a complaint about the harassment at the nearest police station or cyber cell. These complaints are governed primarily by the Information Technology Act, 2000, along with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), which has now replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Depending on the nature of the harassment, the police may register an FIR under relevant sections of these laws to initiate an investigation.
2. Cyber Crime Portals
These were instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs. They launched the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, which focuses especially on crimes against women and children. These portals are more convenient, as one can report abuse anonymously.
3. Taking Actions Through Social Media Platforms
Most social media apps have the option to report abusive content, block users, and request content takedown.
4. Filing a civil lawsuit
The victim can file a civil lawsuit against the abuser for defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress, and can seek damages.
5. Protection order
If the harassment is persistent and threatening, the victim can seek a protection order or restraining order from the court, especially if there is fear of physical harm.
Gaps in law and implentation
Even though laws exist to protect victims, they are not properly implemented. Most of the legal provisions available are from other areas like the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); there is no law that focuses purely on social media-related offences. This gap brings its own negative consequences.
Another issue is the delay in registering cases and taking necessary action. There have been instances where a case wasn’t taken seriously until it went viral. If such problems exist even in developed cities, we can only imagine the condition in rural areas.
Lack of awareness about cyber laws and how people can use them to their advantage also reduces the effectiveness of the available remedies.
What can we do?
We might not be able to fix everything around us, but we can definitely start by doing our part. If we see someone being harassed online, we shouldn’t ignore it or judge them, instead of that standing by them could mean more than we think. And if we ever go through something like this ourselves, we should know that we have the right to speak up and take action. We can report it to the platform, reach out to the cyber cell, or use the official government portal cybercrime.gov.in.
It also helps to be a little more aware of the laws that exist. Even if they’re not perfect, they can still offer protection. Spreading awareness among our friends, family, or even classmates can make a difference. And sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do is be mindful of what we comment, share, or say online. It costs nothing to be kind, but it can save someone from getting hurt.
Conclusion
Social media has brought people closer, but it has also made it easier to hurt one another without facing any real consequences. From trolling to body shaming, stalking to online threats — harassment on social platforms has become alarmingly common. While laws exist, their reach and implementation are still limited. Many people are unaware of their rights, and even when they are, the long process of filing complaints and waiting for action often discourages them. It is painful to see that instead of standing with the victim, society sometimes joins in on the humiliation, laughing at memes, forwarding hurtful videos, and calling it “entertainment.”
What people often forget is that everyone has imperfections — even the one who judges. But the difference lies in how we carry them. The person being judged is confident enough to own their flaws, while the person judging is often too insecure to deal with their own. That insecurity turns into jealousy, and jealousy into hate. But humiliating someone else doesn’t make you any more perfect. If anything, it only exposes the bitterness within.
It’s easy to sit behind a screen and criticize, but it takes courage to be kind. The online world doesn’t need more trolls — it needs more people who think before they type. Before judging someone, we must ask ourselves: Why does this bother me? What good will come from this comment?
The Internet gives us power — not just to speak, but to uplift, protect, and support. Let’s use it responsibly. The change begins with each one of us.