…Researched and contributed by Femi Taiwo.
Influencers and content creators are no longer tolerating online trolling from media houses, as seen in the recent case of Pamela Mtanga and Sunday World, a South African tabloid.
Sunday World posted a tweet that implied that Pamela was trying to be like another well-known South African personality, Bonang Matheba, by overusing a particular accent when pronouncing her name and surname.
This was despite the fact that Bonang herself had praised Pamela in the past and indicated that she could be the next big thing in South African media.
In response, Pamela, who has a large social media following, clapped back by saying that she was making money using her twang and would continue to do so.
Many of Pamela’s fans also came to her defense, criticizing the publication for trying to piggyback off her fame and for engaging in bullying tactics.
The fact that influencers and content creators are no longer willing to tolerate this kind of behavior from media houses is a positive development, as it sends a message that online trolling and bullying will not be tolerated.
It also underscores the power of social media in giving individuals a voice and a platform to defend themselves against unfair attacks.
It remains to be seen whether Sunday World will apologize or address the issue in any way, but the incident highlights the need for greater responsibility and accountability in online media, especially when it comes to the treatment of individuals and public figures.