For this article:

27 Dec 2025·Source: The Indian Express
2 min
Social IssuesPolity & GovernancePolity & GovernanceEDITORIAL

Public Shaming and Gender: The Trial of a Woman in the Digital Age

The article explores public shaming and trial by media, particularly for women, in the digital era.

UPSC●SSC
Public Shaming and Gender: The Trial of a Woman in the Digital Age

Photo by Marija Zaric

Quick Revision

1.

Public shaming of women

2.

Trial by media

3.

Impact of digital platforms

4.

Societal judgment

Visual Insights

Cybercrimes Against Women in India (2024-2025 Trends)

This dashboard highlights key statistics related to cybercrimes targeting women, reflecting the 'digital age' aspect of public shaming and online harassment. Data is estimated for 2024-2025 based on observed trends.

Total Cybercrime Cases Against Women
~75,000+10-12%

Reflects the growing vulnerability of women to online harassment, shaming, and exploitation, directly linked to the article's theme of 'trial in the digital age'.

Cases of Cyber Stalking/Bullying
~28%+5%

A significant portion of cybercrimes against women involves stalking, bullying, and public shaming, leading to severe psychological distress as mentioned in the article.

Cases of Sexual Exploitation/Morphed Content
~20%+8%

The creation and dissemination of morphed or explicit content is a severe form of public shaming, violating privacy and dignity, often leading to 'trial by media'.

Conviction Rate in Cybercrime Cases
<10%Stable

The low conviction rate indicates challenges in investigation, evidence collection, and judicial process, often leaving victims without justice and perpetuating the cycle of online abuse.

Editorial Analysis

The author critically examines the phenomenon of public shaming and trial by media, particularly its disproportionate impact on women in the digital age, highlighting the psychological toll and the ethical vacuum in public discourse.

Main Arguments:

  1. The digital era has intensified public scrutiny and shaming, turning individuals' private lives into public spectacles, often without due process or empathy.
  2. Women are particularly vulnerable to "trial by media" and online vigilantism, facing harsher judgments and character assassinations based on sensationalized narratives.
  3. This public shaming has severe psychological and social consequences for the individuals involved, leading to isolation, mental health issues, and a loss of reputation.
  4. There is a critical need for greater media ethics, digital literacy, and a more empathetic public discourse to counter the destructive effects of online mob mentality.

Conclusion

Society must reflect on its role in perpetuating public shaming, especially against women. A more responsible media and a more compassionate public are essential to protect individuals from the devastating consequences of trial by media.

Policy Implications

Implies a need for stronger media ethics, digital literacy campaigns, and potentially legal frameworks to address online harassment and defamation.

Exam Angles

1.

Social Issues: Gender inequality, online harassment, cyberbullying, mental health, societal norms, moral policing.

2.

Governance & Constitution: Freedom of speech vs. right to privacy (Article 19 vs. Article 21), media regulation, IT Act, DPDPA, role of judiciary.

3.

Ethics & Integrity: Media ethics, accountability of digital platforms, online vigilantism, victim blaming, responsible journalism.

4.

Technology: Impact of digital platforms and social media on society, content moderation challenges.

View Detailed Summary

Summary

The article delves into the phenomenon of public shaming and "trial by media," specifically focusing on how women are often subjected to intense scrutiny and judgment in the digital age. It uses the metaphor of a "jumbotran" (large public screen) to illustrate how private lives become public spectacles, leading to severe psychological distress for the individuals involved.

The author reflects on the societal tendency to judge women more harshly, dissecting their appearance, choices, and character, often based on incomplete or sensationalized information. This piece highlights the ethical implications of media portrayal and the devastating impact of online vigilantism on individuals' lives.

Background

The phenomenon of public shaming and 'trial by media' is not new, but its amplification in the digital age, particularly with social media, has created unprecedented challenges. Historically, public opinion and moral policing existed in localized forms. However, the internet's reach and anonymity have transformed private lives into global spectacles, often without due process or verification. This has led to severe psychological distress and reputational damage for individuals.

Latest Developments

The article highlights the current trend where women are disproportionately subjected to intense scrutiny, judgment, and online vigilantism. Their appearance, choices, and character are dissected based on incomplete or sensationalized information.

This 'jumbotran' effect of making private lives public has ethical implications for media houses and digital platforms, and raises serious concerns about individual dignity, mental health, and the right to privacy in the digital realm. Recent legal developments like the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) and IT Rules, 2021, attempt to address some of these issues, but enforcement and societal change remain critical challenges.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the legal and ethical aspects of 'trial by media' and online shaming in India: 1. The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgments, has recognized the 'right to be forgotten' as an integral part of the right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution. 2. The Press Council of India (PCI) has statutory powers to regulate content across both print and digital news media, including imposing penalties for unethical reporting. 3. The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, mandate social media intermediaries to establish a grievance redressal mechanism and remove unlawful content upon receiving a court order or government notification. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A.1 and 2 only
  • B.2 and 3 only
  • C.1 and 3 only
  • D.1, 2 and 3
Show Answer

Answer: C

Statement 1 is correct. The Supreme Court, particularly in the Puttaswamy judgment (2017) and subsequent rulings, has affirmed the 'right to be forgotten' as an aspect of the right to privacy under Article 21, allowing individuals to seek removal of personal information from public platforms under certain conditions. Statement 2 is incorrect. The Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory body that regulates print media. Electronic media (TV news) is primarily regulated by self-regulatory bodies like the News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) or News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA), while digital news media falls under the purview of the IT Rules, 2021. PCI does not have statutory powers over digital news media or electronic media, nor does it have powers to impose direct penalties in the same way a court would. Statement 3 is correct. The IT Rules, 2021, impose significant obligations on social media intermediaries and digital news publishers, including establishing grievance redressal mechanisms and requiring them to remove unlawful content upon specific legal directives. Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.