Cyberbullying and the TikTok Lives of Gender and Sexual Minorities in South Africa and Zimbabwe
摘要
This chapter explores the cyberbullying on TikTok faced by gender and sexual minorities in South Africa and Zimbabwe. By analysing a selection of TikTok posts by content creators from South Africa and Zimbabwe, this chapter investigates how digital spaces, which have played an important role in promoting connectivity and visibility, can also contribute to emotional distress and psychological harm for this marginalised group. The article examines the impact of cyberbullying, hate speech, online harassment, and cancel culture on the mental well-being of queer individuals. Using netnography as a data collection method, this chapter offers a critical discourse analysis on the comments section of social media posts made by queer individuals from South Africa and Zimbabwe. Analysing these comments provides a nuanced understanding of the types of content that contribute to potential trauma and how queer individuals navigate these digital spaces. This study aims to highlight the complex relationship between online environments, societal norms, and the psychological well-being of queer individuals. It also offers insights into potential strategies for creating safer and more inclusive online platforms for this vulnerable population.