It’s been two weeks since Niall Horan went on his most recent rant about the toxic bullying he’ll often see online. As you might already know, this is actually a topic he’s been passionate about for some time. Currently having 40.3M Twitter followers, cyber-bullying is, unfortunately, something he sees far too often and it’s something he’s been trying to change. Back in February of last year, he wrote the following;
The way people talk to eachother online is disgusting. There’s no way you would ever say half of the stuff you do to someone’s face.Bravery behind the buttons of a phone. It’s a real shame as half the time , you don’t know the person you are talking to . Would anyone agree ?
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) February 21, 2019
I even see it when I come online . Because i go on stage , get seen on tv, get papped going for a coffee or whatever . People feel like they know you know and they just don’t. Just be nice to everyone and the world will be a much better place and social media is a good start
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) February 21, 2019
Ten months later, the topic came up again. Niall did make sure to specify that he’s not referring to anyone specific, however, this came the same weekend as Liam Payne‘s debut album release and the hate that followed it.
https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/1203607406376300544?s=20
I’m not talking about any artist in particular. I’m talking about the culture on here of just abusing people because you can. It’s not like you would walk down the street screaming out loud about the people you dislike a small bit.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) December 8, 2019
Never effected me . Im too private , I don’t read things online , i don’t really know what people are talking about online but every now and then I’ll look and I see people just saying awful things, especially to the female artists.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) December 8, 2019
Cyber-bullying doesn’t exist only on the basis of peers anymore. More often than not, it’s directed to celebrities who “probably won’t ever see it anyway”. The truth often is they do see, way too much. Receiving, literally, thousands upon thousands of negative messages from complete strangers, every day, is something none of us could ever even imagine experiencing.
Even something seemingly trivial like a comment calling Niall a ‘weirdo’ was enough to cause him to respond with ‘that’s not very nice is it?’. The girl did apologize, she had only meant it as a playful teasing joke, but Niall was definitely trying to make a bigger point from the small interaction.
I’ve been through this 1000 times to help other people. Because we are famous faces and people see us online, on tv, in interviews etc…. doesn’t mean people can say what they want.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 4, 2020
It’s effectively the same as walking up to someone in the street and just saying what you want to their faces… you just don’t do it .
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 4, 2020
It bothers me because I know it hurts other people and that’s the frustrating part. Not everyone is as thick skinned. we are normal people that do an abnormal job in which society has put us in a differet category for some reason.
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 4, 2020
https://twitter.com/NiallOfficial/status/1290650316954902530?s=20
Niall doesn’t want special treatment, he just expects the average decency and kindness we should all be giving each other; on and off the internet.
Let’s not do the thing of Niall deserves better because I don’t deserve anything.. let’s just be nicer to eachother and spread the love and laughs . Xx
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) August 4, 2020
Whether it be cyber-bullying towards ‘the famous’ or towards fellow peers, it obviously makes a big difference on anyone.
We can make the internet a better place . Today is #StopSpeakSupport Day, part of #AntiBullyingWeek . Together we can help tackle cyberbullying . Be an upstander if you see bullying online: https://t.co/FlTIOmrQnp @abaonline pic.twitter.com/owrfwqBO3i
— Niall Horan (@NiallOfficial) November 15, 2018
In reality, tweets like the ones included here won’t change everyone, but even if it changes the perceptive of a few people, that’s a positive step.
Think before you type, and treat people with kindness!*
*Yes, we know you read that in a Harry Styles voice.