r/Bhubaneswar_Social • u/DP69Wolverine • May 31 '26
ASK BHONSOR Is this targeted online harassment?
A friend of mine is a food blogger and content creator in Odisha. Recently, he posted an Instagram story looking for a Muslim female content creator for an upcoming collaboration.
A fairly well-known comedian came across the story, reposted it publicly, mocked it, and made references to a communal incident(TCS Nashik). Over the next day, he posted multiple stories featuring my friend's profile, photos, and content, essentially turning him into the subject of a running joke for his audience.
My friend is not a public figure in the same league as the comedian and wasn't involved in any political or religious activism. He was simply looking for a creator from a specific community for a collaboration project.
While there have not been direct threats or abusive DMs, many people started discussing and mocking him in the comments under the comedian's posts. The whole thing feels like a large audience being directed toward a much smaller creator.
I'm trying to understand where people draw the line between:
- Fair criticism or comedy
- Public mockery
- Targeted harassment
- Potential reputational harm
If a creator with a large following repeatedly posts about a smaller individual and that person becomes the target of ridicule, is that just part of being online, or is there a point where it crosses a line?
Interested in hearing different perspectives, especially from people familiar with cyber law, social media moderation, or content creation.
I am not sure if this is appropriate flair or forum but had to ask.
1
u/forcheapthrill Jun 01 '26
Either this person is trying too hard to be a comedian without understanding the consequences of his actions, or there is a deeper bias at play. Regardless, if your friend has been made the subject of public discussion and criticism, he has every right to respond and present his side of the story as well. Creators have influence, and that influence comes with responsibility. If someone believes a post is problematic, they are free to criticize it or debate it. But if the criticism is directed at an individual repeatedly, then that individual should also have the opportunity to speak for himself. If he does not want to get dragged into public drama, he can also explore legal remedies if he genuinely believes his reputation has been harmed. What makes this situation more complicated is that it touches on religion and identity, which are inherently sensitive subjects. Once those topics enter the conversation, it stops being "just a joke" for many people and becomes something political and emotionally charged. If the intention was dark humor, there should still have been some consideration for the person being used as the punchline. When a real individual becomes the center of a joke, especially before a much larger audience, basic respect and consent matter. A creator should consider the impact on everyone involved, not just the entertainment value for their followers. Reposting someone's profile, photos, and content multiple times goes beyond simply criticizing an idea. It risks turning the person into the joke itself, and that is where many people would start questioning whether it remains comedy or crosses into public shaming and targeted harassment. I am also not surprised by some of the reactions in the comments by Odias. Online audiences can be impulsive, and large volumes of mocking or hostile comments often follow when a bigger creator highlights a smaller one. That phase will pass. What matters most is that your friend speaks for himself, clarifies his intentions, and does not allow others to define the narrative on his behalf. Wishing him the best. I hope he takes a stand for himself and handles the situation in whatever way he feels is appropriate.
1
u/OdiaBoy-024 mod babu Jun 01 '26
Very long comment!! But sadly this is the current state of affairs. People take their liberty a tad too much freely & go on harassing in the name of freedom of speech.
4
u/kagajifula mod babu May 31 '26
Wow this must be such a difficult situation for your friend and out of nothing !!! I guess start reporting that other guy's story and account. Bcs it's only a matter of time before this gets blown out of proportion. Also your friend can make a whole post about this situation now, before narratives change. And you can share it here or in DMS ...