Ethical Implications of Onlife Vitriol

Abstract

This chapter explores onlife vitriol from an ethical perspective. Traditional offline/online dualisms hinder in-depth understanding because online and offline violence are deeply interconnected, hence onlife. We discuss three cases of onlife vitriol: revenge rape and slut shaming, body shaming, and cyberbullying. Onlife vitriol opens up unprecedented forms of harm enabled, and often amplified, by the technology. We argue that this form of violence is currently inadequately addressed. Existing legal measures are not (yet) effective for preventing or ensuring sufficient reparation in cases of onlife vitriol. Societal debates about how to handle onlife vitriol lag behind despite implicit acknowledgement of its harmful effects. Greater media literacy and more research concerning the boundaries of monitoring are needed now that it has become increasingly easy to surveil, coveil, and sousveil.