Emma Kok again calls online hate bullying
The singer writes that she has regularly received hurtful comments on her public posts since turning 18.
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Emma Kok has spoken out on Instagram against hateful reactions on social media. The singer writes that she was bullied in the past and experiences the new reactions under her posts as a continuation of that.
Kok posted her message as part of the Week Against Bullying. She writes that bullying had a major impact on her during her youth and that hurtful comments on social media can reopen old insecurities.
According to Kok, she has received comments since turning 18 in which people, among other things, subjected her to crude abuse. She says she does not understand why strangers post such remarks and asks people who dislike her to keep scrolling instead of attacking her directly.
The message concerns her own public accounts and not a formal complaint against a specific platform. Kok gives no number of reports, names no individual accounts and mentions no concrete measures Instagram or other platforms have taken against the reactions.
Online reactions to well-known Dutch people can spread quickly, but the public post gives no indication of the scale of the problem for Kok or of the average number of reactions. Nor has it been established how many of the messages were posted by real people and how many were distributed automatically.
Her message fits into a broader discussion about the line between criticism and intimidation on social media. Users do not all draw that line in the same way, but personal attacks and threats can be reported to platforms. Kok makes clear above all that, in her view, public prominence is no licence for humiliating reactions.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Emma Kok has written publicly about hurtful reactions under her posts.
- She links those reactions to her earlier experiences of being bullied.
- There are no independent figures on the scale of the reactions.
- The post mentions no formal complaint or platform measure.
Left
Arguments Platforms and users share responsibility for actively tackling online intimidation. Moderation should not wait until public figures themselves demonstrate the harm.
Values Safety, inclusion and protection from abuse of power.
Consequences Stricter moderation can make participation online safer, but requires transparency to prevent arbitrary removals.
Centre
Arguments There must continue to be room for criticism, but personal insults and threats should be dealt with through clear reporting procedures. Platforms must explain how they do this.
Values Proportionality, the right to be heard and understood rules.
Consequences Distinguishing criticism from intimidation can offer both freedom of expression and protection.
Right
Arguments Public figures must be able to withstand criticism and users should be free to express their opinions without every sharp remark being labelled hate. Criminal threats should, however, be addressed.
Values Freedom of expression, individual responsibility and restraint in censorship.
Consequences A high threshold for intervention prevents over-moderation, but may make victims feel they are left to fend for themselves.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text uses Kok's own post as the source for her experiences and adds no unverified figures or diagnoses. The context about reportability is expressed in general terms and is not presented as specific platform policy.
- confirmed Emma Kok published a post about online hate and bullying. — This appears in her public Instagram post. source
- confirmed She writes that the reactions increased from the age of 18. — The post contains this personal statement. source
- confirmed Kok has previously spoken publicly about being bullied. — RTL Boulevard described her earlier reflection. source
- confirmed No independent figures on the reactions were found. — The public sources consulted give no figures. source
Editor's note
Kok's own public statements and her earlier public account of being bullied are certain. No independent figures on the scale or nature of the reactions were found.Sources
- WEEK AGAINST BULLYING — Emma Kok via Instagram
- Emma Kok spreekt zich uit tegen haat op sociale media — NL Vandaag
- Emma Kok blikt terug op pestverleden — RTL Boulevard
More on this in Dutch media
- De Telegraaf — „emma kok”
- AD — „emma kok”
- de Volkskrant — „emma kok”