It has become common among social media users, particularly the youth, to use these platforms to defame others by exposing personal secrets in what appears to be a form of confrontation.
For some, it seems no longer taboo to publicly defame others. If someone is upset with you or things aren’t going well between you, they will sit in front of a camera and begin revealing all the secrets you share, with no regard for how many people might end up seeing it.
In the past, elders were known for their discretion, even going as far as concealing the mistakes of those who wronged them, because they, too, felt ashamed to expose them publicly. When situations escalated, they would sit the person down among friends, criticize them, and offer advice, instead of subjecting them to public shame, allowing for easier reconciliation.
KURA spoke with youth from Kigali about the reasons they believe cause many of their peers to engage in defamation using these platforms.
Mukasimbizi Chantal noted that those who defame others on social media often lack meaningful activities to occupy them, resulting in the creation of frivolous and harmful conversations.
She explained that many students, currently on vacation, spend a lot of time at home, leading them to engage in such negative behaviors like defamation and other harmful discussions because they lack productive activities to fill their time.
She said, “The reason people defame others on social media is because many of them come together on these platforms, and oftentimes, they don’t have jobs. They spend all day online, constantly defaming others because they have nothing else to do.”
This aligns with data from the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda (NISR), which reported in May 2024 that the general unemployment rate stood at 16.8%.
The report showed that women had an unemployment rate of 19.8%, compared to 14.1% for men, while youth unemployment was 20.5%, higher than the 14.1% rate for older adults. Rural districts had a higher unemployment rate (17.3%) compared to urban districts (15.7%).
Temporary workers made up 53.9% of the labor force. Among them, 61.1% were women, while 46.1% were men, with youth accounting for 59.5% compared to 53.8% of older adults.
Umuhoza Perusi added that many people now resort to defamation on social media as a means of making a living. She explained that platforms like YouTube are being used by many to attract attention, often through defamatory content, in order to earn money.
She said, “There are people who go on social media seeking views, because the more views they get, the more they are paid. This pushes them to think of defaming others, especially those with well-known names, by creating scandalous content that attracts many viewers, allowing them to make money.”
Defamation is a negative practice that reflects the improper use of social media. It is often mentioned that misuse of social media can have mental health consequences, especially when individuals are hurt by the exposure of their private information in public settings.
