Are Batswana Cyber Bullies?

Batswana have always been recommended for being peaceful and very friendly people throughout the years globally and have also always toped analysis charts in Africa as peaceful and friendly people whose nation is worth a visit. But even though that might be the case recent years especially in social media have seen Batswana always forging attacks that could shutter a person confidence and self-esteem. They have never been ones to shy away on body slamming and throwing jabs at whosoever might been in the spotlight at the moment.

Some time back they did the same when they threw jabs at one local celebrated celebrity, Sadi and not only her but even many others like Amantle Brown and even Vee Mampeezy on his English speaking. They have also recently been head on against BJB as well on his looks and even making challenges to that. To show just how fearless they are they have even done so with the First Lady of the country on many occasions and quite recently on her birthday. It is quite a common thing that there is even a term to it “facebook violense” every time there is someone being dissed or attacked.

Of recent, the norm caught up with the international eyes when they took it to social media yet again to fire up offensive comments that were body shaming the representative of Sweden, Miss Sweden at the Miss World competitions in Puerto Rico. This incident had the country in the spotlight and even had a possibility to jeopardise the country’s own representative, Miss Botswana Palesa Molefe. Such incidents always have an impact on how the country is viewed especially at world platforms were issues of gender and others are quite sensitive and may go on in the view of being highly offensive. It also had the potential of affecting the country’s representative as she may feel all eyes being on her in a judgemental way.

This raises the question to whether issues that are considered sensitive are addressed and whether if there is enough education on such and also if we as Batswana know how to differentiate between things that are can be seen as bullying and those that are not. It seems we are not woke yet.