Patient Zero of Internet-Shaming: Monica Lewinsky takes cyber-bullying fight to TED

On TED, Lewinsky takes a look at our “culture of humiliation,” which equates online shame to money.

Monica Lewinsky

Monica Lewinsky is a social activist against cyber-bullying. She was, once upon time more popularly known because of Lewinsky scandal.

In 1998, Lewinsky’s personal life was made public when her relationship with the then President of America, Bill Clinton, was revealed. Then 21-years-old Lewinsky went into hibernation and re-emerged after almost 20 years on her terms, she started with her article in Vanity Fair – Shame and Survival.

Her recent public appearance on TED Talks where she gave a speech on ‘The price of shame’ seemed more than prevalent and important today. In a brave talk, she takes a look at our “culture of humiliation,” in which online shame equals to clicks which converts into dollar signs.

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Quoting her personal experience she said, “I was Patient Zero of losing a personal reputation on a global scale almost instantaneously.”

In her speech she says, “Everyday people, specially young people who are not developed mentally equipped to handle this are so abused and humiliated that they can’t imaging living to the next day, and some tragically don’t. And there is nothing virtual about that!”

In her speech she raised her voice against content put online without consensus, without context and made public without compassion.

Watch full video here: