‘Don’t share disturbing images on social media’

PETALING JAYA: She was raped by two robbers. The brutal assault was caught on closed circuit television and the recording made its way to social media, where it was shared many times over.

The disgusting incident, which took place at a gambling den in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, last week, was the most recent video that went viral.

The rampant sharing of disturbing graphic images and videos on cyberspace is unsettling and must stop, said concerned groups.

Wanita MCA chairman Datuk Heng Seai Kie said netizens who shared the four-minute clip “spared no consideration” for the victim.

“I would like to urge all sensible people out there to stop objectifying women.

“Stop circulating violence on video as you are encouraging misogynists to objectify and sexualise women’s bodies, which then leads to victim-blaming, where women are accused of being in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said.

Help University Masters in Counselling programme head Dr Anasuya Jegathevi Jegathesan said it was merely about getting “likes” and attention on social media.

“If you care about people, then you will understand and not post these things.

“What if these are images of your family member? Would you want other people to see them?”

Dr Anasuya said that while people cannot stop others from posting on their own social media accounts, a person should be bold enough to voice an objection if the post was shared.

Criminologist and psychologist Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat said people should be mindful that such actions and attitudes were a form of “self-serving cognitive distortion”.

“It does not show that they are caring, but rather reveals a lack of it,” she said, adding that some have a distorted belief that sharing such videos or graphic images was educational.

National Parent-Teacher Asso­ciations Collaborative Council president Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hasan said parents and guardians have to ensure that they do not post or share such content and should delete them immediately.

“We also need to be frank with our children, our spouses and other family members.

“We need to remind them that it is their responsibility and advise our children not to view such content,” he added.