As more young people spend their time on social media, so too have concerns grown about their safety online- about who can reach them and how. A recent case has brought those concerns into focus once again. A TikTok post alleging that a 28-year-old man sent inappropriate messages to several teenage girls has gone viral online. The post alleges that the man repeatedly tried to contact them through various social media platforms despite knowing they were minors.
Since the allegations against the man went viral, several young women and girls, as young as 15, have come forward, saying they experienced unwanted messages from the same man.
The man allegedly followed the girls and women from multiple account names, like “Bubble” and “JP”, and eventually asked them to meet.
BBS spoke to some of them who requested anonymity.
“He would send me messages about my body, things I had never even thought about myself. He would comment on my body and tell me how he wanted to touch me. I still remember him saying that when I became an adult, if he ever saw me at a Space Party, which he said he frequently attended, he would take me to a room and make it an unforgettable night for me,” said one teenager.
“I was 15 when he first approached me. At first, his messages were simple: ‘hi,’ ‘hello,’ and ‘how are you doing?’ He started complimenting me on every video I posted. He would repeatedly follow me from different accounts, including Bubble and JP. Somehow, he also found my Instagram account and repeatedly followed me there and sent me message requests. After a couple of months, his messages started to change. He began asking if I wanted to go for a drink or go on a drive with him,” added another.
BBS also spoke to the man at the centre of the allegations. He acknowledged communicating with the girls but denied intending to meet them or engage in sexual activity.
The Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan 2018 criminalises harassment through information and communication technology systems. Section 426 classifies online harassment as a petty misdemeanour punishable by one month to less than one year.
The Act also contains provisions aimed at protecting children from harmful media content and gives relevant authorities powers to investigate and preserve electronic evidence in suspected offences.
Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority, BICMA, can receive complaints and take regulatory action in matters within its mandate. However, the authority said it has not yet received the case.
Meanwhile, a lawyer told BBS that whether the alleged conduct in this case amounts to an offence will depend on the evidence the relevant authorities gather. If the matter proceeds to court, the court will determine the facts and whether any law was broken.
The matter is now with the police. The original post detailing the allegations has since been removed and replaced with a link to a document containing further details of the allegations.
While responsible use of social media platforms depends on the person engaging in them, experts advise using blocking and reporting functions that various platforms provide to ensure unwarranted online experience. Likewise, parents, guardians and schools are encouraged to discuss online safety regularly.
Children experiencing online harassment or other forms of distress can also contact The PEMA through its helpline at 1098.
Tashi Dekar
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
