Imagine landing the biggest collab of your life – and then getting dragged for it. That was the reality for Naledi Aphiwe, one of the guests on Room of Safety Episode 2, the MTN-MTV Base series that explores real mental health struggles faced by young people across Africa. Aphiwe is an 18-year-old South African singer-songwriter who has had powerful collaborations with international artistes like R&B singer Chris Brown.

In the episode titled ‘Recognising Cyberbullying’, Naledi shares a deeply personal experience: “When I made a song with Chris Brown and he posted me on social media, I did get cyberbullied on social media. People were bashing me. I felt so bad because everyone in South Africa was supposed to be happy for me because I was still a child.” That moment of truth sets the tone for the episode, as Naledi is joined by Craig Nobela, Lordkez, and others who are all too familiar with the sting of online hate.

For young Nigerians chasing success in the digital era, the line between public love and public shame is often heartbreakingly thin. “I know it might not be easy for people to speak about things that they are going through. There’s a lot of pressure to always be fine. A lot of toxic positivity going around,” Lordkez, another music artiste shared. “You get on social media and it’s all toxic positivity, like, you must always be smiling, always be strong. But what happens when you’re not okay?”

The episode explores how constant judgment can chip away at your identity. “When I started appearing on TV and gaining fans, it was the most love I ever received from strangers – but also the most hate,” Craig admits. “It sucks when you wake up in the morning, trying your hardest, and someone pulls through to your comments just to say, ‘Stop it, go home.’ Like, why?”

But Room of Safety is about reclaiming control. One of the strongest messages in Episode 2 is the power of blocking and reporting. “If you feel like the conversation is steering in a direction that you’re not comfortable with, just block the person. And you don’t even have to explain yourself to the person. You don’t owe them an explanation. It’s your life, it’s your safety at the end of the day,” said Craig. “It’s your life. Your safety. You’ve got to protect your peace.” The episode encourages viewers to stop normalising hate, especially under the guise of “free speech” or “criticism.”

If someone is consistently attacking others online, blocking them doesn’t just protect you; it helps the wider community too. “When you report that person harassing you, you might just be saving the next person from being a victim,” Naledi added.

Room of Safety Episode 2 feels like a group chat therapy session meets real-world survival guide, and that’s exactly what young people need right now. With cancel culture, clapbacks, and content overload, this show reminds us that your mental health matters more than public opinion. And if you need permission to tap out of the noise? Consider this your permission.