Bullying the Bullies: An Exploration of Shaming and Vigilantism in Cyberspace

Kaylea Egnor* and Karen Weiss, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Field (Broad Category): Sociology (Oral-Human Engagement) 

Student’s Major: Criminology 

Social media has permanently changed the way that humans are able to interact with and view the world. In recent years, social media has also become a platform for what our research has deemed to be “cyber vigilantism.” Cyber vigilantism occurs when groups of people band together in order to shame and/or harass other people that are seen as having committed acts of crime or deviance, especially when these acts can be interpreted as motivated by prejudice. Actions taken by cyber vigilantes can include tracing and publishing personal information (such as home address or phone number), finding and contacting the employer of the individual involved, and encouraging the verbal, cyber or even physical harassment of the individual. This vigilantism attempts to use shaming mechanisms to prevent the individual from acting further. However, the escalating nature of these groups often leads to overreaction and cyber “mobs.” Though the vigilantes are often well-intended, viral attention of this magnitude can motivate people committing acts of crime or deviance to continue, beginning a process in which the two parties feed on one other. This study will explore illustrative cases that provide insight into these processes and serve as a framework for future research efforts. 

Funding: 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course