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The term was apparently coined by [[George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock|Lord Foulkes]]<ref name = "foulkes"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glawest.org/labour-mp-calls-for-independence-supporters-to-be-barred-from-debates/ |title=Labour MP calls for independence supporters to be barred from debates |work=www.glawest.org |publisher= |date=24 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> and was used by Scottish Labour leader [[Iain Gray]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8385075.stm |title=Parties demand Salmond holds blog smear inquiry |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=29 November 2009 |accessdate=9 April 2014 |quote=Back in May I asked [[Alex Salmond]] to get a grip of these 'cyber nats' bloggers}}</ref> It gained greater prominence during 2013, after mainstream media sources reported that Sir [[Chris Hoy]] had been subject to online abuse for expressing his support for [[unionism in Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/geek-twerking-cybernat-among-words-of-the-year-1-3234374 |title=Geek, twerking & cybernat among words of the year |work=The Scotsman |publisher= |date= |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/submission/12787/cybernat |title=cybernat: New Word Suggestion |work=www.collinsdictionary.com |publisher=Collins |date= |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref>
The term was apparently coined by [[George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock|Lord Foulkes]]<ref name = "foulkes"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glawest.org/labour-mp-calls-for-independence-supporters-to-be-barred-from-debates/ |title=Labour MP calls for independence supporters to be barred from debates |work=www.glawest.org |publisher= |date=24 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> and was used by Scottish Labour leader [[Iain Gray]] in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8385075.stm |title=Parties demand Salmond holds blog smear inquiry |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=29 November 2009 |accessdate=9 April 2014 |quote=Back in May I asked [[Alex Salmond]] to get a grip of these 'cyber nats' bloggers}}</ref> It gained greater prominence during 2013, after mainstream media sources reported that Sir [[Chris Hoy]] had been subject to online abuse for expressing his support for [[unionism in Scotland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/geek-twerking-cybernat-among-words-of-the-year-1-3234374 |title=Geek, twerking & cybernat among words of the year |work=The Scotsman |publisher= |date= |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collinsdictionary.com/submission/12787/cybernat |title=cybernat: New Word Suggestion |work=www.collinsdictionary.com |publisher=Collins |date= |accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref>


The Scottish edition of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' undertook a campaign in January 2014 to "unmask" Cybernats.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545901/Cybernats-unmasked-Meet-footsoldiers-pro-Scottish-independence-army-online-poison-shames-Nationalists.html |title=Cybernats unmasked: Meet the footsoldiers of pro-Scottish independence 'army' whose online poison shames the Nationalists |work=Daily Mail |publisher= |date=25 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' reported in March 2014 that a retired soldier had received some abusive messages from Cybernats, after SNP politician [[Roseanna Cunningham]] posted a message on [[Twitter]] showing a letter from the soldier asking for donations to [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/10679203/General-accuses-SNP-minister-of-endangering-his-family-after-Cybernat-attack.html |title=General accuses SNP minister of endangering his family after 'Cybernat' attack |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=12 May 2014 |first=Simon |last=Johnson}}</ref>
The Scottish edition of the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' undertook a campaign in January 2014 to "unmask" Cybernats.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2545901/Cybernats-unmasked-Meet-footsoldiers-pro-Scottish-independence-army-online-poison-shames-Nationalists.html |title=Cybernats unmasked: Meet the footsoldiers of pro-Scottish independence 'army' whose online poison shames the Nationalists |work=Daily Mail |publisher= |date=25 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' reported in March 2014 that a retired soldier had received some abusive messages from Cybernats, after SNP politician [[Roseanna Cunningham]] posted a message on [[Twitter]] showing a letter from the soldier asking for donations to [[Better Together (campaign)|Better Together]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scotland/10679203/General-accuses-SNP-minister-of-endangering-his-family-after-Cybernat-attack.html |title=General accuses SNP minister of endangering his family after 'Cybernat' attack |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |date=6 March 2014 |accessdate=12 May 2014 |first=Simon |last=Johnson}}</ref> In June 2014 the author [[JK Rowling]] received abusive messages from cybernats after donating to Better Together.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10893567/JK-Rowling-subjected-to-Cybernat-abuse-after-1m-pro-UK-donation.html</ref>


''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' stated in February 2013 that: "The problem is not limited to the nationalist side of the referendum debate, with the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] complaining of Unionist "unitrolls" spreading online abuse."<ref name = "silence">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/yes-campaigners-launch-bid-to-silence-cybernats.20084686| newspaper=The Herald| title=Yes campaigners launch bid to silence cybernats |first=Magnus| last=Gardham |date=2 February 2013 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> It also reported that the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign would monitor blog sites and Twitter in an attempt to police offensive comments by supporters of independence.<ref name = "silence"/>
''[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]]'' stated in February 2013 that: "The problem is not limited to the nationalist side of the referendum debate, with the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] complaining of Unionist "unitrolls" spreading online abuse."<ref name = "silence">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/yes-campaigners-launch-bid-to-silence-cybernats.20084686| newspaper=The Herald| title=Yes campaigners launch bid to silence cybernats |first=Magnus| last=Gardham |date=2 February 2013 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> It also reported that the [[Yes Scotland]] campaign would monitor blog sites and Twitter in an attempt to police offensive comments by supporters of independence.<ref name = "silence"/>

Revision as of 17:29, 18 June 2015

Cybernat is a term used in the media of the United Kingdom to refer pejoratively to online supporters of Scottish independence.[1][2]

The term was apparently coined by Lord Foulkes[1][3] and was used by Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray in 2009.[4] It gained greater prominence during 2013, after mainstream media sources reported that Sir Chris Hoy had been subject to online abuse for expressing his support for unionism in Scotland.[5][6]

The Scottish edition of the Daily Mail undertook a campaign in January 2014 to "unmask" Cybernats.[7] The Daily Telegraph reported in March 2014 that a retired soldier had received some abusive messages from Cybernats, after SNP politician Roseanna Cunningham posted a message on Twitter showing a letter from the soldier asking for donations to Better Together.[8] In June 2014 the author JK Rowling received abusive messages from cybernats after donating to Better Together.[9]

The Herald stated in February 2013 that: "The problem is not limited to the nationalist side of the referendum debate, with the SNP complaining of Unionist "unitrolls" spreading online abuse."[10] It also reported that the Yes Scotland campaign would monitor blog sites and Twitter in an attempt to police offensive comments by supporters of independence.[10]

During the 2015 UK general election campaign, Labour called for the SNP to disown a candidate who had posted abusive comments on Twitter about Scottish unionists and elderly voters.[11] Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, condemned the comments but also pointed out that a Labour activist, Ian Smart, had abused nationalists.[11] Labour subsequently suspended Smart from membership of the party.[12] Charles Kennedy, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, was the target of on-line abuse during the campaign and immediately after the election.[13] One person who had posted comments directed at Kennedy using a personal Twitter account was identified as an SNP constituency official; the party declared that his comments were inappropriate and he quickly resigned.[14][15]

References

  1. ^ a b "Cybernats and cyberbrits: How do they affect mainstream political debate?". www.news.stv.tv. STV. 5 July 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  2. ^ Cochrane, Alan (7 March 2012). "Welcome to planet Cybernat where the air is toxic". The Daily Telegraph.
  3. ^ "Labour MP calls for independence supporters to be barred from debates". www.glawest.org. 24 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Parties demand Salmond holds blog smear inquiry". BBC News. BBC. 29 November 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2014. Back in May I asked Alex Salmond to get a grip of these 'cyber nats' bloggers
  5. ^ "Geek, twerking & cybernat among words of the year". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  6. ^ "cybernat: New Word Suggestion". www.collinsdictionary.com. Collins. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Cybernats unmasked: Meet the footsoldiers of pro-Scottish independence 'army' whose online poison shames the Nationalists". Daily Mail. 25 January 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  8. ^ Johnson, Simon (6 March 2014). "General accuses SNP minister of endangering his family after 'Cybernat' attack". Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  9. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/scottish-independence/10893567/JK-Rowling-subjected-to-Cybernat-abuse-after-1m-pro-UK-donation.html
  10. ^ a b Gardham, Magnus (2 February 2013). "Yes campaigners launch bid to silence cybernats". The Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Election 2015: Sturgeon condemns candidate Neil Hay tweets". BBC News. BBC. 23 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  12. ^ Gordon, Tom (14 June 2015). "Labour suspends outspoken blogger Ian Smart". Sunday Herald. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  13. ^ Sunday Times. News International http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/scotland/article1568566.ece. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help) (subscription required)
  14. ^ http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/snp-official-quits-over-charles-kennedy-online-abuse-1-3800372
  15. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-33109453
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