“Power Addiction” - A Social Deviation That Needs to Be Eliminated

The phenomenon of “power addiction” is becoming more and more common, from real life to cyberspace, every day, every hour, gradually negatively affecting public awareness and opinion. Therefore, we need to identify and take preventive measures to eliminate it from social life.

In fact, there have been many cases of "power-crazy" signs recently. A typical example is the case of LBN, who was "worshiped" by netizens with his "shocking" statements before the National Assembly, and was prosecuted by the Investigation Police Agency of Thai Binh Province on November 14, 2023 for "extortion of property" and additionally prosecuted for "abusing position and power to influence others for personal gain".

Behind the flashy appearance, the "iron-like" statements asking the authorities to fight against corruption and negativity, is the nature of "old wolves" who commit acts of extortion, abuse of position and power of National Assembly deputies, and influence others for personal gain. Initially, the investigation agency determined that the subject LBN had profited from billions of dong.

In Thai Nguyen, there have also been many complicated complaints, mainly related to the settlement of land issues and policies of the authorities. For example, Mr. and Mrs. NTT, NTB, MQL, and HVU regularly brought complaints, went to the gates of the offices of state agencies to request to meet the leaders and continued to make requests to go beyond the level ( Government Office , Central Citizen Reception Office).

Accordingly, these subjects often gather with many citizens from many different localities to submit petitions, causing disorder and affecting the activities of relevant agencies, units and individuals. Although the authorities at all levels have been propagandized and explained the provisions of the law; in some cases, they have been called in for review and admonished by the police, they still have the same old habits, "old habits die hard".

Or like the case of NTT, born in 1972, residing in Phuc Linh commune (Dai Tu), who encouraged and incited people to use small change to pay fees at BOT stations, causing disorder and traffic jams to livestream on his personal Facebook "HN" and the fanpage of the Thai Nguyen ATK People's Association to say no to Bo Dau BOT on National Highway 3.

Due to being “high on virtual power”, thinking that he was a “hero” on social networks, NTT defied the law, went to many districts and cities in the province and many provinces and cities across the country to illegally collect a lot of unverified information related to land lawsuits, activities, and private lives of a number of leaders to write articles that were untrue, distorted, defamed, and insulted many agencies, organizations, and individuals, posted them on social networks, causing confusion among the masses, affecting state management activities, negatively impacting political security and social order and safety.

In addition, NTT also took advantage of some mistakes of the authorities to threaten and extort. At the peak, NTT committed the act of "Extortion of property" of others for the amount of 50 million VND. NTT had to pay the price for his violations when on November 29, 2023, the subject was arrested by the Investigation Police Agency of Phu Luong District Police for the act of "Extortion of property" of others.

It is also necessary to frankly admit that the crowd mentality spreads shocking information extremely quickly without hesitation, consideration, or verification, because they already believe that the information from those "influencers" is real, even the truth. It has a strong impact on the public, especially young people - the majority of users on social networks, who are open, dynamic, and extroverted.

Owning personal accounts, managing groups with tens of thousands to millions of followers, posting articles with thousands of shares, supportive comments, and encouragement have made them immersed in the illusion of fame. With a large number of followers, of course their influence is not small. But along with that, the admiration of netizens also makes them become arrogant, self-delusional, and quickly fall into the disease of "power addiction".

The above mentioned cases of “power-crazy” all behave in a deviant manner; taking advantage of the struggle, standing up to represent the legitimate rights of a group of people to polish their own reputation. There are even people who often show that they “instruct” this agency or that organization to do this or that with a very subjective attitude. Perhaps, because they “exist” for too long in a virtual world full of praise, they are increasingly infected with the disease of “power-crazy”.

The “power-crazy” disease is the cause of ugly behavior in cyberspace, of oppression, of keyboard attacks, and also the reason for deviant behavior. These are things that should be condemned. When we are constantly exposed to deviant content in cyberspace, the public’s standards for talent also gradually decrease.

Social media users don’t watch “quality” content – they watch content that many other people watch. This is especially true for young people, who want to follow the crowd so they don’t get left out. This is what makes “non-standard” pages and channels on social media platforms appear like mushrooms after the rain.

The phenomenon of “power-crazy” is becoming more and more common. However, no matter how influential a person is, he is still a citizen, must uphold the law, and must respect the cultural traditions and ethics of the Vietnamese people. We cannot use the number of people praising him on groups, the number of followers on social networks, and the number of views as tools to “act recklessly”.

To contribute to preventing, stopping and limiting the negative impacts of "power-crazed" cases on the community, each person needs to join hands to build a healthy social network community; equip themselves with certain knowledge, gradually and continuously improve themselves to become a person with courage, culture, civilized behavior, not supporting and promoting "power-crazed" behaviors and subjects.

The media and press need to have information to propagate and expose violations, fight against the wrongful and hostile views of violators; at the same time, enlist prestigious people to convey and orient public opinion, create strong public reactions, boycott and eliminate the wrongdoings of "power-crazed" subjects, so that "power-crazed" subjects will also find it difficult to survive.

In addition to public pressure and boycott, there must also be stronger sanctions and penalties to deter violators. Authorities need to increase the detection and handling of violators, and at the same time, disseminate the handling results to create social deterrence and general prevention.

Hopefully, the phenomenon of "power-crazed" will gradually be eliminated from social life, cleaning up the online environment, where everyone is equal before the law; no one is above others, outside the law.

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