The film, produced by Taylor’s University for Deepavali, comes in the wake of the tragic death of a social media influencer who was believed to have been bullied online.
The four-minute film, titled “Spark in the Dark”, was also made in view of Malaysia being among the top countries notorious for cyberbullying.
The film revolves around the impact of cruel comments on a young plump Indian girl after she posts a video of herself singing an English song off-key.
In the film, trolls – netizens who deliberately make offensive or provocative online posts – are seen liking the harsh comments as well as disparaging her singing, looks, and the colour of her skin. Some also body-shame the girl.
After reading the negative comments, which include one that asks her to delete her YouTube channel, the girl puts her guitar away into the cupboard and sinks into depression.
However, a timely post by someone with the message “Don’t quit! Your spark deserves to be seen. Keep singing”, which is followed by encouraging words from Malaysians of all races, inspires her to sing again.
“Don’t be afraid to shine! The world needs more!” reads another post.
Taylor’s group chief marketing officer, Ben Foo, said the video explores how to combat the prevalence of online abuse, focusing on a group often overlooked in discussions about cyberbullying – bystanders.
“The core message of the film is clear. Bystanders play a critical role in dispelling the darkness of cyberbullying,” he said.
Foo said Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission data revealed that 9,483 cases of cyberbullying were reported in the past three years, becoming the leading cybercrime in the country.
As with previous years, he said, Taylor’s festive short films focus on significant challenges facing the nation.
However, this year’s message transcends local concerns and tackles a universal issue of cyberbullying.
“This modern form of harassment has become a global crisis, affecting people of all ages and backgrounds, and Malaysia is no exception,” he said.
It was reported that 30-year-old social media influencer A Rajeswary, better known as Esha, was found dead at her home in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, on July 5.
The Hindu rights activist had filed a police report the day before against two people for allegedly harassing her on TikTok.
Two people who had posted comments on her TikTok post were subsequently charged with communication offences, said to be the first involving a cyberbullying victim.