New kykNET campaign warns against cyberbullying

“I wish I can give her a b***h slap.”

“Must the faggots be everywhere?” 

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“She is all high and mighty, but I am sure she is common in real life.” 

“If I ever see you in the streets, I would like to stone you to death myself.”

 “You don’t have any talent. You are where you are because of the colour of your skin.”

Social media made the world smaller and brought people closer. But it also made the world a nastier place with bullies thinking it is their right to slander celebrities, humiliate them and even wish death on them. 

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Listed above are just a couple of the offensive insults that kykNET personalities (and other well-known celebrities) have endured on social media. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. 

The aim of the new kykNET campaign, #YouThinkYouKnowMe, is to put the spotlight on the way some people on social media treat celebrities and to try to create a healthier social media environment where viewers can share their opinion, without being nasty.

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“We live in a time where people hide behind their keyboards and write these messages, but they don’t realise the impact of their words,” says Leo Smit, marketing manager at kykNET. “Our artists see these comments and the words hurt. We hear about teenagers and even grownups committing suicide because of cyberbullying. These bullies don’t realise what the emotional impact of their words is.”   

The ten personalities used in the campaign are Marijke Coetser ('Getroud Met Rugby'), Willem Botha ('Kwêla'), Melanie du Bois ('Arendsvlei'), Roberto Kyle ('Arendsvlei'), Jawaahier Petersen ('Suidooster'), Frazer Barry ('Fiësta'), Marlee van der Merwe ('Getroud Met Rugby'), Cindy Swanepoel ('Binnelanders') and Weza Matomane ('La’t Wiel').

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kykNET viewers use the kykNET social media platforms as a place where they can interact and talk about their favourite kykNET shows. “Viewers tell us via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram what they like and dislike about the channel’s content,” says Leo Smit. “We’ve always been open to critique about our shows - we realise taste differs and we welcome feedback from our viewers.”

Danny Painter spoke to Leo Smit and Jawaahier Petersen, listen here:

Image Credit: Supplied