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how rebecca black put the spotlight on cyberbullying
a video of her song 'friday' in 2011 started a storm of cyberbullying, pushing the american youtuber and singer into a deep depression.
feb 12 2020
1 minute read
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nine years ago, an ode to the best day of the week was released by 13-year-old american youtuber and singer rebecca black.
the 13-year-old black had paid the company ark music factory to write, record and produce a music video for her, resulting in the pop masterpiece called ‘friday.’ the song, which counts down the days of the week, was mocked for its lyrics and became something of a national punchline and creating a storm of relentless bullying towards black.
in a recent note, black commemorated the anniversary by recounting the bullying she encountered throughout her teenage years as a result of the video, both in real-life and online. she reflects upon how it felt to be unable to tell anyone about having food thrown at her in the school cafeteria and her resulting depression.
okay so i just got back on twitter and i am just so blown away and confused and grateful at the messages you guys have been sending to me in response to this. i could have never imagined support like this. that you a million times i just wanna cry!! (happily!!!) https://t.co/soxfljhjd9
— rebecca black (@msrebeccablack) february 11, 2020
the link between bullying and mental health is nothing new. a 2011 study found “that victimization was associated with both past, concurrent, and future depression from ages 11 to 13 years and 13 to 15 years.”
in one survey, 61 per cent of teens said that the majority of online insults were about their appearance, something black mentions in her post.
forty seven per cent of young people worldwide have reported “receiving intimidating, threatening or nasty messages online” according to uk-based children’s advocacy group the children’s society.
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here in canada, more than one million kids are cyberbullied each month, with 42 per cent of those aged 15 to 29 years, saying they have been victims of cyber bullies, reported telus , which has frequent social media campaigns to raise awareness against bullying. the report also found that girls are more likely than boys to experience cyberbullying.
for black, it seems that she has emerged from those dark days of bullying to find an online community that is now supportive, positive and encouraging. plus, she’s still making music .
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