The Digital Human   

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The Digital Human

Factual: Science & Nature: Science & Technology

Aleks Krotoski explores the digital world

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The Digital Human: Series 15: Harm

Factual: Science & Nature

Harm

Series 15

BBC Radio 4 - The Digital Human, Series 15, Harm

Why do we sometimes remain silent when others need help? Aleks explores why we hold back.

Aleks explores the bystander effect and how this can translate online. Can technology transform a bystander into a witness who can help protect and defend those in need?

Sarah from Ohio went online to escape bullies at her school but they followed her online and the abuse continued.  She hoped someone would step in and help her but her attempt at a cry for help was ignored. 

We also hear from Vie Clerc Lusandu who was attacked, with her son on a train travelling from London to Leeds.  Vie is still trying to comprehend why on a packed train it took ten minutes for someone to come to her aid. 

Dr Lasana Harris an experimental psychologist from University Collage London explains that people do not step forward because they are callous but because of the bystander effect.  People may just not recognise when they are faced with a helping situation.  If there is a large crowd this is exaggerated as people take their cues from other people.  If there had been fewer people in Vie's carriage Lasana says it would have been more likely that someone would've stepped forward because the diffusion of responsibility would have been lower.  Lasana acknowledges that because the conditions necessary for the bystander effect are magnified  people online are even more unlikely to step in. 

 Jackie Zammuto from Witness an organisation who teach people around the world how to bare witness to injustices using video explains how it is possible to turn from a bystander into a witness whose presence can then be of some use even if they don't step in.  This may not have help Vie feel any less scared or vulnerable  but it may have helped to deescalate and disrupt the attack. 

However documentary photographer, Lauren Pond's story warns us that we need to be careful we don't use our phones as a protective shield in helping situations where we should really put them away and step in or through observing videos online become bystanders ourselves.

Produced by Kate Bissell 
Researched by Jac Phillimore

The Digital Human: Series 15

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Aleks Krotoski explores life in the digital age.

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