Toxicity online seems pervasive. We encounter and hear about all manner of obscene language, insults and slurs. Some of it even comes from U.S. President Donald Trump. Much of his long list of attacks against people, places and things has been unfurled online. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Tag: Trolls
“Internet trolls face up to two years in jail under new laws” screamed the headline on the BBC’s website, after Chris Grayling decided to “take a stand against a baying cyber-mob”. It’s not the first time that so-called ‘trolls’ have been made the subject of a government ‘stand’ – and a media furore. This particular one arose after TV presenter Chloë Madeley suffered online abuse – that abuse itself triggered by the comments about rape made by her mother, Judy Finnigan, also a TV presenter, on Loose Women. Continue reading
What a tragedy it is that it requires another suicide to regenerate widespread interest in cyberbullying, the phenomenon that has become the scourge of the internet age. Charlotte Dawson, the New Zealand–Australian television personality, recently took her own life following a lengthy battle against anonymous Twitter trolls, which has precipitated calls for tougher anti-cyberbullying legislation in Australia (see and sign here). Continue reading
Before the Christmas break, twitter indicated how it intends to tackle two of its main challenges in 2014, namely: trolls and the spread of false information. This article provides a brief summary of these strategies (one of which was disclosed by a leak) and comments on their effectiveness. Continue reading
Social media remains an engaging way to be entertained and educated and has many positives. We are increasingly living our lives online and, for some, it is all about forging real life friendships, building business contacts and sharing information (or pictures of their cats). But as with any community – whether online or in real life – there is a dark side. Continue reading
Over recent weeks there has been a welcome debate on trolling and online abuse. One of the main questions has been – who bears the responsibility of dealing with this reprehensible practice, with many pointing accusing fingers at Twitter. Continue reading
Strange times on Twitter. What seemed like a well-supported, perfectly reasonable and ultimately successful campaign to make sure at least one of our banknotes has a woman on it (apart from the Queen) has been slightly overshadowed by rape threats made to one of the women who launched it. Continue reading
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