Naming and Shaming in Cyberspace: Forms, Effects and Counterstrategies

Public exposure through naming and shaming in cyberspace has become an important side effect of the advancement of the digitalisation and technologisation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).This chapter provides insights into shaming in the digital arena and presents an overview of shaming forms, effects, strategies and counterstrategies in the context of technological changes and advancement from different cultural perspectives on individual, social and global levels. In this chapter, the authors present contemporary debates on shaming in the 4IR, referring to forms of shaming used to reinforce social norms. On one hand, the authors provide insight into online shaming and its special forms, such as slut-shaming (the exposure and shaming of individuals for their perceived or actual sexual behaviour) and body shaming, for instance, the “pro-Ana” (anorexia nervosa) and “pro-Mia” (bulimia nervosa) movements glorifying shame-based eating disorders which are interlinked with shame and shaming. On the other hand, the authors note that the presentation of self-injurious behaviour is currently a strong trend on the Internet. Scribing, snipping and cutting are glorified as a lifestyle, as is the increase in instructions, announcements and appointments for suicide, especially among children and adolescents. The authors reflect on how shame impacts on these behaviours described on the Internet.