One Photo Too Many
This story was born from a simple aim : to tell a fictional story that addresses a very real issue—school bullying and cyberbullying.

Through the character of Élise, a 16-year-old girl, I wanted to imagine what a young person might go through when faced with bullying triggered by the sharing of a photo.

It all starts with a photo.

A photo that, on the surface, captures just one moment among many.

But when it is shared without a full grasp of the consequences, everything can change rapidly.

The photo circulates. Comments appear. The mockery begins. Messages multiply.

And gradually, Élise finds herself caught in a downward spiral she never could have imagined.

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A fictional story, a very real issue
"One Photo Too Many" is a work of fiction.

The characters, situations, and plot were created specifically for this story ; they do not recount my own personal experiences.

However, even though the story is fictional, the subject matter is deeply real.

Every day, young people may face mockery, insults, rumors, exclusion, humiliation, or the online sharing of content.

Cyberbullying, in particular, can add a new dimension to harassment : content can spread rapidly, be saved and reshared, and reach a vast number of people.

It is this reality that I wanted to explore through fiction.

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Why choose fiction ?
Writing fiction allows for storytelling without claiming to recount the specific experience of any one individual.

It also makes it possible to create relatable characters, depict various situations, and illustrate the potential consequences of bullying.

With Élise, I wanted to show how a situation can gradually escalate.

At first, it might seem like "just a photo." Then come the comments.

The messages.

The mockery.

The rumors.

The isolation.

And finally, a situation that becomes increasingly unbearable.

The goal is not to be dramatic for the sake of it, but to prompt reflection.

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There is always a person behind the screen
One of the key messages of "Une photo de trop" (One Photo Too Many) is to remind us that actions taken behind a screen have real-life consequences.

Sharing a photo, posting a humiliating comment, joining a conversation meant to mock someone, or simply encouraging a post might seem harmless to the person doing it.

Yet, for the person on the receiving end, the consequences can be severe.

It takes only a few seconds to send a post.

But the consequences of that post can last much longer.

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The role of bystanders
Through this fictional story, I also want to raise an important question:

What should you do when you witness bullying ?

Being a witness doesn’t necessarily mean you have to confront the bullies directly.

There are various ways to act: refusing to participate or share, reporting content, saving evidence, telling an adult or a trusted person, or simply being there for the victim.

Sometimes, just knowing someone is there can make a huge difference.

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A fictional story born of my commitment
As the founder of the "Libère toi de cet harcèlement" (Free Yourself from Bullying) collective, I work to raise awareness about school bullying and cyberbullying.

"Une photo de trop" is part of this effort.

This project is another way to raise awareness.

Because such an important issue can be addressed in many ways: through personal accounts, talks, discussions, prevention campaigns, and videos—but also through fiction.

I wanted to use writing to create a story that would prompt reflection, spark conversations, and raise awareness.

 

A story that makes you think
I do not want *Une photo de trop* (One Photo Too Many) to be just a story one reads and then forgets.

I would like it to prompt everyone to ask themselves a few questions.

What if this happened to me ?

What if it happened to someone I know ?

Would I just stand by and watch ?

What could I do to help ?

Because fighting harassment is not just about the victims and the bullies.

It also involves bystanders, families, schools, professionals, digital platforms, and—more broadly—our entire society.

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One photo too many, but one more voice
The title *Une photo de trop* (One Photo Too Many) represents the starting point of this story.

But it can also be seen as an invitation to reflect on our own online behavior.

Before posting, sharing, or commenting on content involving someone else, let’s take a few seconds to think.

Behind every photo, video, message, or account, there is always a person.

A person with their own emotions, sensitivities, boundaries, and life story.

 

Through this story, my goal is simple:  to raise awareness about school bullying and cyberbullying, encourage reflection, and remind everyone that no one should have to bear the weight of silence.