Lily Lang, a college student, found herself embroiled in an online smear campaign recently, prompting her to set all her social media accounts to private. This incident sheds light on the harsh realities women often face online, even when they haven't done anything wrong. Here's what we know about her background and why she found herself targeted by widespread online hostility.
Who is Lily Lang and why is she trending online?
Lily Lang is a college student within the Southeastern Conference of Schools, whose name gained prominence across the internet within the "Burnerverse." This refers to a collective of present and past fraternity members who joined forces on Twitter to publicly shame individuals they deemed deserving. Lily became a specific target, accused of engaging in infidelity by allegedly cheating on her boyfriend with multiple men from various colleges.
Following the allegations, Lily became the focal point of numerous memes within this online community. Arthur Cacciatore, a former fraternity member from 2008, initially posted about Lily, which sparked widespread circulation of her name and image. These posts included memes that either criticized her or drew comparisons to other women who have gained viral attention on the internet.
Lily, also referred to as the SEC girl, found herself without the anonymity that often shields women who go viral online. Despite this, she faced a relentless campaign of vitriol and harassment, prompting her to make all her social media accounts private. While allegations of infidelity may have surfaced, the scale of the public backlash against her still seems unwarranted and unjust.
What is the Burnerverse?
The Burnerverse, a segment of Twitter where Lily's name gained traction, seems to consist of ex-fraternity members sharing common interests, often intertwined with elements of misogyny. While not formally organized, this group shares mutual followers, allowing the memes they create to spread within and beyond their community.
Lily has emerged as a prominent target within this group, many of whose members maintain relatively anonymous accounts. Similar to phenomena like Gamergate that specifically target women online, these campaigns may initially appear lighthearted but can inflict enduring harm on their targets.
Despite any personal shortcomings she may have, Lily Lang, still a college student, did not deserve the severe treatment she endured in June 2024. Hopefully, the attention will subside, allowing her to move forward with her life.
