How A Group Came Together on TikTok to Find Their Voices

      

In June of 2022, a group of individuals from all over the United States came together to use their voices. They did not know each other beforehand, in fact, most of them were not even following each other on social media until recently. But they had a common foe; cyber-bullying.

Jessamyn Dodd (@jessydodd on social media) https://www.instagram.com/jessydodd/ , a writer and social media specialist, was no stranger to online bullying. “I have had people sometimes write things about my appearance and my race in the past. I normally just block and ignore”. “I’ am used to it at this point. It doesn’t make it any easier. There is always going to be someone who does not like you. I’ve faced a lot of judgments about my photographic and editorial work.  Art is subjective and I don’t have a cookie-cutter approach to it”. Most recently Jessamyn decided to write a blog piece about the escalation of cyber-bullying, harassment, and doxing on TikTok. “I did not know any of the people that were involved except for one”.

https://original.newsbreak.com/@jessamyn-dodd-1594641 The blog piece featured several large black creators who were having their lives threatened online. The blog quickly went viral, making its way around TikTok. “The crazy thing is that the day it was released one of the people named in the piece instantly went on to his Instagram and doxed me. He went on several other creators’ lives and released my address, and phone numbers. I just wrote a bit about doxing and your response is to dox me. So weird”.  She joined forces with other victims and they quickly formed a bond. It motivated Jessamyn to begin writing again.  “I received so many messages and comments from people I’ve never met. I had this outpouring of support. So many people were sending me their stories and videos… It was a bit overwhelming”.

A woman known online as @songbird_soprano is an attorney who is an anti-bully advocate. She is the legal expert in the group. “I’m in this fight because I care about my community. I’m seeing black men get locked up, swatted, CPS being called on black men and women. I’m seeing black and other creators of color utilize tools of white supremacy to try and take down other creators. And I can’t watch that happen. Folks on the other side are willing to get folks here unlived. And we have to do something about it. “.

@willograin.tv began making TikTok videos addressing the escalating threats and trying to bring attention to the issue. She is the organizer of the group. Along with Elrico they dedicate time to fact-checking and compiling “receipts”.  One individual made a video admitting that they were mass reporting Willow and having her videos taken down. Willow states she began making videos because she was witnessing what was happening to Patrick. “I am a real-life activist, so I feel like when I see something is wrong I have to say something”.

Denise Maupin (@cuban-d-lite) is an activist and member of The Black Panther Party whose life has been threatened several times on TikTok.

Anthony Hyland (@ispeak1906) is a U.S. Navy service member and motivational speaker. He has perhaps gotten the worst of the harassment with users calling his Naval base, sending letters and emails to his command, and accusing him of atrocious crimes that he did not commit. He uses his platform to speak out against bias and hate.

 

 


      


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