Kechi Okwuchi gives lessons on how to deal with cyberbullies

Nigerian-American Kechi Okwuchi has taken to her Instagram to give a lesson on how to how internet trolls. 

Kechi identified three steps to take depending on the severity and the persistence of the attack. According to her, you can ignore trolls, which they really hate because they’re seeking for “attention”.

Where that didn’t work, just block and/or ignore them. Because “it’s your page, your feed, you have some measure of control over what appears on it.” Kechi Okwuchi was also quick to advise that there is a difference between when someone disagrees with us and when they troll. While blocking someone for trolling is fine, doing that because they disagree with you is “childish“, according to Keshi.

Finally, you can expose trolls for what they are, Keshi says. That’s because “if they did it to you, they’ve done it to others,” Keshi says. “‘Never fight fire for  fire… online bullies can’t take what they dish out and are only brave behind a screen.’”

[bctt tweet=”Never fight fire for fire… online bullies can’t take what they dish out and are only brave behind a screen. – Kechi Okwuchi”]

Some background on Keshi Okwuchi’s post:

A few days ago, the America Got Talent finalist uploaded a picture of herself on her Twitter handle a few days ago. She had attended one of her best friend’s wedding ceremony as a bridesmaid and post some pictures on her Instagram page.

A troll tweeted “God, it looks like someone set fire to your face and then put it out with a Shovel.”

Kechi handled the insult like a queen that she is. Without missing a beat, she had graciously replied: “Sigh, it would be easier on you to use your time on this earth to be kinder to others, in-person and online. In the meantime, you got my brief attention so you’re welcome lol”

Sigh?it would be easier on you to use your time on this earth to be kinder to others, in person and online. In the meantime, you got my brief attention so you’re welcome lol https://t.co/fYTdkGtZrT

— Kechi Okwuchi (@Kechi) February 17, 2020

And now?

After Kechi responded to the troll, she decided to use her Instagram page to educate people on how to handle cyberbullying. According to Keshi who survived the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash that killed 108 passengers and crew, “opportunities show up in the most interesting places. This comment under my most recent tweet (swipe to the last pic) has given me a chance to address online bullying. When faced with this there’s a no. of steps I can take:

1- IGNORE.

Though I like my response here, I regret responding at all, because the no 1 reason ppl (people) say mean things online is FOR ATTENTION. Remember that. So once you don’t even acknowledge them, they have no power.

Now, you may encounter cyberbullies who persistently push you online no matter how much you ignore them.

Step 2- BLOCK AND/OR REPORT. It’s your page, your feed, you have some measure of control over what appears on it.

I’m not saying block and report ppl who disagree with you, that’s childish. But if someone says something like the above to you in person, you most likely won’t sit to listen to it. So the same way you’d block and cancel people who talk this way to you irl (in real life), the same thing online: CANCEL THEM.

Now if all this didn’t work and you simply must respond like I felt the need to: EXPOSE THEM. If they did it to you, they’ve done it to others.

“We live in a world where ppl are more informed and less tolerant of such behavior. So if you must reply, never fight fire for fire. I exposed this bully and as ppl came for him through my post I didn’t even have to block him myself as you can see, online bullies can’t take what they dish out and are only brave behind a screen.

Ok I’m done. Hope this helps someone”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8q7JNCpMt5/?igshid=1nkj3aiwjlz6l