What is Dissing?

Definition and Origins (Hip-Hop Culture)

The term dissing comes from African-American slang, an abbreviation for disrespecting.

Dissing is the act of publicly bad-mouthing, insulting, belittling or denigrating another person, often to damage their reputation or social status.

Originally, the term was popularized in hip-hop culture with diss tracks, entire songs dedicated to attacking a rival rapper, but always within a context of artistic competition.

In the context of cyberbullying and minors, dissing has lost its "artistic" connotation and simply refers to any form of public denigration online.

It is the digital equivalent of "digging up dirt" or badmouthing someone behind their back, but with the amplifying power of social networks.

Dissing as Digital Denigration

In the practice of cyberbullying, dissing is a form of denigration and defamation.

It materializes when a minor uses public platforms (an Instagram "story," a TikTok video, a Twitter/X thread) to post hurtful content about another person.

This may include:

• Making fun of their physical appearance, clothing or economic status.
• Spreading rumors, whether true or false (gossip).
• Posting screenshots of private conversations to ridicule the person.
• Creating humiliating memes or photomontages.

The aim of dissing is to erode the victim's social reputation.

The aggressor seeks group approval (the "likes" and supportive comments) by humiliating another, positioning himself as superior or "more popular".

Dissing vs. Outing and Flaming

Dissing overlaps with other concepts, but has nuances:

It is not Flaming: flaming is a mutual fight, an exchange of insults. Dissing is a one-sided attack; the victim is usually not participating in the conversation, but is the object of the conversation.

Not (necessarily) Outing: Outing consists of revealing a deep secret (such as sexual orientation).

Dissing is usually more superficial (though equally damaging), focusing on criticism of appearance, intelligence, or popularity.

Outin