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When Online Feuds Target Children: A Malaysian Father Reflects on the Toxicity of Tamil TikTok

A Digital Space Growing Out of Control
As a man in my mid forties, I have seen how society evolves, but I never expected to witness a digital space becoming so toxic that even children are dragged into the anger of adults. This is exactly what is happening on Tamil TikTok today. What began as petty quarrels has grown into organised harassment, public humiliation and threats that no responsible society should ignore. Children are now being targeted, shamed and used as tools in adult conflicts. It has become more than online drama. It is a social emergency.

A Threat That Crossed Every Moral Boundary
A recent incident involving a man known as Naan Manithan brought this crisis to a disturbing peak. For months, he was mocked and humiliated by a group of cyberbullies led by a woman and her associates. Their live sessions insulted his marriage and attacked his wife in disgraceful ways. In one of those sessions, a soldier named Rosababy even made vulgar gestures while speaking about the victim’s wife, and Rita George from Germany added to the harassment with long sessions of verbal abuse.

Eventually, Naan Manithan responded in a way that shocked many people. In a viral video, he threatened the woman’s children. He spoke openly about taking their photographs, editing them with defamatory captions and distributing them at their school and college. He said he would label the daughter as a sex worker and the son as a boy performing sexual acts. These words amounted to criminal intimidation and showed how online cruelty can escalate into real danger.

The Ecosystem of Harassment Behind the Scenes
This level of hostility did not appear suddenly. It developed within a toxic ecosystem where harassment has become entertainment. The woman who leads the bullying group has a long record of verbally attacking others, often targeting their appearance, jobs and families. Her group includes people who insult with shocking boldness, and others who run anonymous troll accounts that specialise in doxxing and creating explicit AI generated images of their victims.

A rival group has also emerged, led by Joseph Prakash Sukumaran. His supporters include anonymous troll accounts. One of these trolls is linked to a Sri Lankan man known for desecrating the Malaysian flag last year. Both sides now engage in nightly battles watched by hundreds or even thousands on TikTok. Sellers on the platform find themselves pressured to take sides and those who attempt to stay neutral often become targets themselves.

Children Becoming Collateral Damage
The most troubling development is the way minors are being dragged into these conflicts. Even if adults do not act on their threats, the recordings remain online and can be picked up by anonymous individuals who may decide to act on them. A child who has nothing to do with the dispute could be tormented or shamed simply because of who their parents are.

Recently, a new scandal surfaced involving a girl believed to be seventeen or eighteen years old. A man known as Ghost Fire claimed publicly that he had slept with her. She is the daughter of the same woman whose son was threatened earlier by Naan Manithan. Once again, a young person became a victim because adults refuse to draw boundaries. It is appalling that minors are being used as weapons in online conflicts.

The Attacks on Olivia Lopez’s Family
Among the many troubling stories, the attacks on Olivia Lopez’s family stand out sharply. Olivia sells prayer products and mandian bunga on TikTok. For months, she and her children have been ridiculed, sexualised and bullied by the group led by Logen, Naim, Eashwar and others. Olivia’s adult daughter was shamed for wearing a modern dress. Her teenage daughter was mocked in school because of lies spread online. Her nineteen year old son was accused of being hit by his mother simply because he was described as feminine or possibly gay. Her seventeen year old daughter was also targeted by this group.

The Need for Firm Action Under the Online Safety Act
Malaysia now has the Online Safety Act, but laws mean little if they are not enforced. Digital platforms must remove harmful content quickly, detect threats in real time and suspend accounts that target children. They must also cooperate fully with law enforcement. Protecting minors should never be optional. It must be the highest priority.

What Communities Must Do
Tamil TikTok has become a place where adults behave without restraint, and where cruelty is normalised. This cannot continue. Viewers must stop enjoying harassment as entertainment and instead report harmful content. Parents need to educate their children about the dangers of online engagement. Community leaders and educators should speak openly against this culture of humiliation. Platforms must improve their safety systems and regulators must apply the Online Safety Act firmly and consistently.

Conclusion: A Line That Must Not Be Crossed
When adults fight online and children become collateral damage, it means society has crossed a line. If we fail to act now, we may one day face harm that cannot be undone. Social media should never be a place where a child’s dignity is destroyed or their safety is threatened. It is time for Malaysia to stand firm and protect the most vulnerable members of our communities.

By: Suresh KA
Suresh KA is a Malaysian based professional in his mid forties. He comes from a close knit family that emphasised education, accountability, and respect for others. Having observed the rise of harmful online conduct within Tamil digital spaces, he writes to encourage responsibility, empathy, and safer online engagement.

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