In the digital era, social media has become an indispensable part of daily life. However, the dark side of free connection is exposing an alarming reality: the rampant growth of cyberbullying and the severe degradation of online behavior among a segment of internet users.
Toxic Messages from Total Strangers
Recently, a screenshot of a Messenger chat shared on social media has left the public deeply disheartened. The image captures a message request sent from an account named "Lưu Bị" (Liu Bei) to another user. Instead of a polite greeting, the chat opens with highly vulgar, offensive, and insulting language: "haha cái con đĩ mẹ mày phong cặc" (a stream of profanity and insults in Vietnamese).
What makes it particularly concerning is that this message resides in the "Message Requests" folder, meaning the sender and the recipient have no mutual connection or prior relationship. The victim suddenly became the target of baseless verbal abuse and personal attacks the moment they opened their inbox.
Hiding Behind Anonymity to Gratify the Ego
This behavior is far from an isolated incident; rather, it reflects a chronic disease plaguing cyberspace today. Many users create burner accounts or use fake names—often borrowing names of historical figures or fictional characters—combined with random profile pictures to completely conceal their true identities.
The psychology of "no one knows who I am" effectively removes the moral brakes for a segment of internet users, especially youth. They casually hurl toxic, vulgar, and defamatory words at others simply to satisfy an impulsive urge, a selfish whim, or a petty desire for online trolling, completely disregarding the mental toll and emotional distress inflicted on the recipient.
The Consequences of Cyberbullying and Self-Protection Measures
Cyberbullying might not leave physical scars, but it acts as an invisible weapon that severely damages mental well-being. It can trap victims in a state of constant anxiety, frustration, and in severe cases, trigger clinical depression.
In response to this growing threat, social media platforms have integrated various features to help users protect themselves. As shown in the screenshot, the system clearly provides three distinct options when receiving an unsolicited message from a stranger:
Block: Completely cuts off any further harassment or contact from the toxic account.
Delete: Instantly removes the spam/toxic message from the inbox to avoid unnecessary negativity.
Accept: Allows communication to proceed, which is generally not recommended for abusive messages.
