Abbie Chatfield has shared a lengthy video discussing how social media trolls are doing her psychological harm.
The 30-year-old posted the video, which clocks in at close to ten minutes, on TikTok on Tuesday, explaining how ‘fake news’ has changed the nature of trolling.
‘As someone who has been trolled every day for the past six years… I have noticed a huge change in the kind of trolling that I have been receiving, and it’s impacting my mental health much more than the previous form of trolling,’ she began.
‘Trolling has evolved, and I hate the word trolling. I think it really minimises it. It’s not trolling – it’s abuse and harassment. It’s cyberbullying,’ she continued.
Abbie explained that trolls aren’t just ‘edgy’ jokesters and added, ‘You’re actually an abuser.’
‘I’ve noticed a change in the content and that change made me more depressed. What you’re doing is making me feel very depressed,’ she went on.
Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has shared a lengthy video discussing how social media trolls are doing her psychological harm
Abbie listed a number of vile taunts directed at her – including being called a ‘dumb b***h, sl*t, sk*nk, wh**e’ and even receiving death threats.
‘The content has changed… (it’s not) just verbal abuse in capitals. Now it’s people who actually aren’t in touch with reality,’ Abbie said.
‘It’s making me feel f***ing insane. It is making me so depressed. It is making me so anxious and it’s making me feel like the world has gone mad’.
The podcaster said the issue is that people are commenting things that ‘aren’t true’ and won’t listen to reason.
‘They’ve been brainwashed by things like fake news. They’ve been brainwashed to believe that no experts can be listened to,’ she said.
Abbie blamed a movement of ‘anti-intellectualism’ and ‘brainwashed’ people who are ‘under-educated’.
‘(They’re) saying that degrees don’t mean anything. (That) experts aren’t really experts,’ she said.
‘Even if 100 experts agree on something, if there’s one expert that disagrees, (they see that as there being) no consensus.
‘These people have been taught during Covid not to trust mainstream media. They don’t trust facts.
Abbie explained that trolls aren’t just ‘edgy’ jokesters and added, ‘You’re actually an abuser ‘
Abbie blamed a movement of ‘anti-intellectualism’ and ‘brainwashed’ people who are ‘under-educated’ for sharing misinformation online
‘Not only do they not trust facts, but these people aren’t able to source-check themselves.’
The former reality star then ran through a series of topics where she felt her commenters had the facts wrong.
Those topics included medical issues around life-saving abortions and the likelihood of women cheating in relationships.
She also discussed statistics regarding a rise in domestic violence incidents after major sporting events.
‘Why don’t you just look it up? If you looked it up, you’d see that I am correct,’ Abbie suggested.
The former radio star concluded that the trend of misinformation, alongside the rise of AI, was ‘very, very concerning’ and promised to cover it in a future podcast.
If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or via lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
