cybermob

or cy·ber mob

[ sahy-ber-mob ]

noun

1. a self-perpetuating group of people carrying out a campaign of online harassment that often includes ridicule and shaming or hate speech and threats, in response to reported news, stated opinions, published images, etc.:

   A few outraged trolls hashtagging part of the speech quickly snowballed into a cybermob posting racist memes about the speaker.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cybermob¹

First recorded in 2005–10; cyber- ( def ) + mob ¹( def )

Example Sentences

“Defendant Simon is the leader of a ‘cybermob’ that with malice, fraud, and oppression, commits and encourages unlawful acts designed to injure Roblox and its users,” the suit claims, seeking $1.65 million in damages.

From The Verge

The dangers of researching the cybermob—and why it’s worth it.

From Slate

The goal of crybullies is often to incite a "cybermob," or " a self-perpetuating group of people carrying out a campaign of online harassment that often includes ridicule and shaming or hate speech and threats, in response to reported news, stated opinions, published images, etc."

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, a legal team for Nick Sandmann, the student at the center of the controversy, is preparing for possible legal action against the “cybermob” that attacked him and his fellow students after the incident, Fox News reported.

From Washington Times

Meanwhile, a legal team for Sandmann is preparing for possible legal action – including libel, defamation, cyberbullying and assault – against the “cybermob” that targeted the teenager in the days following the incident.

From Fox News