Essay on The Price of Shame

In this Ted Talk essay on “The Price of Shame” by Monica Lewinsky, the author argues that cyberbullying is one of the negative impacts of technology. Such a situation leads to psychological distress and shame. Lewinsky, in her Ted Talk video, explains her encounter with cyberbullying and shaming. She underlines the psychic trauma associated with bullying and the need for a more sensitive society, portraying her resilience and relating to my earlier encounters with online bullying.

The Main Point of the Video

The video’s main point is public shaming and cyberbullying, where Lewinsky shares the experience after her affair with President Bill Clinton went viral, making her receive ridicule online. For example, she became a publicly humiliated figure overnight due to technology where people were against her, as news stations published her photos all over (Lewinsky 03:54-04:38). People sent numerous emails depicting Lewinsky as a prostitute. Issuing the photographs made the mockery severe, affecting her psychologically. Further, she shares a conversation with her mother about a university freshman who committed suicide due to cyberbullying after videos of him having sex with another man leaked online (Lewinsky 09:26-10:02). Through the freshman, Lewinsky shows the consequences of shaming, calling for a more compassionate and empathetic society. Thus, using her experience, Lewinsky advocates for change in the social perception of persons who fail and encourages the media to act kinder toward such individuals.

Personal Experience

The video relates to me since, just like Lewinsky, I received public ridicule in high school. I sent a private message that was leaked online in all student WhatsApp and Facebook groups. The resulting mockery had a severe impact on my mental health, leading to anxiety and depression. Watching Lewinsky’s video reminds me of the horrible situation and distress I endured. In turn, the information made me think critically about my activities and attitudes toward online behavior.

Importance

Lewinsky’s information is vital since it advocates for a more supportive and humane society. Public humiliation and shaming have severe mental damage that may result in violence to oneself or others through mass killings and bombings (Svindseth and Crawford 4). In this case, in avoidance of psychological damage and death from disgrace, human beings need to support each other and stop cyberbullying. Hence, we ought to foster a culture of empathy and kindness.

Application

Lewinsky’s video applies to daily personal interactions. For instance, being mindful and aware are vital steps in preventing cyberbullying and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) (Faura-Garcia et al. 1). As we interact with others either online or offline, it is essential to be watchful of our words and also be alert of the psychological effects they may have on others. Hence, the video conveys vital information that can help eliminate cyberbullying in our society.

Surprising Thing

The one thing that surprised me was Lewinsky’s resilience. In all the interviews she attended, Lewinsky owned up to her mistake (Dorfman par. 5). Despite having less power than the President, she admitted to her blunder and never blamed anyone. Instead, she withstood the critics without playing the victim. Thus, Lewinsky’s talk video portrays her as resilient, a character that surprised me.

Summing Up

In conclusion, Monica Lewinsky emphasizes the severe psychological impact of cyberbullying, public shaming, and its price. She calls for a more empathetic society that minds about each other’s psychological state. The video mirrors my previous encounters with trolling, which resulted in trauma and distressing emotions. Further on, the speaker emphasizes the vitality of people being digitally mindful and aware to eliminate cyberbullying. Surprisingly, Lewinsky’s resilience to face cyberbullying ended up differently compared to regular cases, which makes her a role model to consider during daily interactions.

Works Cited

Dorfman, Dana. “A Therapist’s Gratitude for Monica Lewinsky.” Medium, 19 Oct. 2021, drdanadorfman.medium.com/a-therapists-gratitude-for-monica-lewinsky-353367e98bfe.

Faura-Garcia, Juan, et al. “Cyberbullying Victimization and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: The Role of Maladaptive Schemas and Dispositional Mindfulness.” Child Abuse & Neglect, vol. 118, no. 105135, Aug. 2021, pp. 1–11, doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105135.

Lewinsky, Monica. “The Price of Shame.” TED, 2015, www.ted.com/talks/monica_lewinsky_the_price_of_shame.

Svindseth, Marit F., and Paul Crawford. Humiliation: Mental Health and Public Shame. Emerald Publishing Limited, 2019.