Isn’t it time social media was brought under control - dreadful abuse after England football defeat.

25Avalon: I think your thread is back on track but if you would like to see my thread from back in June it was headed: Social Media - A Weapon of Self Destruction.

www.gransnet.com/forums/news_and_politics/1296985-Social-Media-A-Weapon-of-Self-Destruction?pg=3

I recall the temporary strike by a number of sports organisation designed to ram the message home that social media platforms should do more to monitor and counter unwarranted abuse of all kinds. It was a good gesture but little more. To have an impact, such a strike should be for the foreseeable future until they change.

Anonymity on social media is comforting for most of us but it does encourage people to use language that would probably be avoided or tempered if we were face-to-face.

Named and shamed in local and national papers then left for their employers/families to take whatever action deemed necessary.

A YouTube video with very negative comments about Southgate and the players came up completely unsolicited. The posts were all very negative without a single post defending them. The English just didn’t seem quite right so more outside stirring seems likely.

The Internet has helped me enormously dealing with an ever recurring form of skin cancer and nerve pain BUT it’s also very vulnerable to those wanting to undermine society and create chaos.

Full cooperation is unlikely internationally and it’s hard to see how a balanced humane conclusion can be reached without it.

The man who devised the internet never intended it to be used in the way that the minority use it, you will always get those who exploit things for their own gratification. Perhaps it has now become such a monster that it is time to stop feeding it and find other sources of communication.

Yes should be restricted definitely. Keyboard warriors hiding behind aliases .

I’ve just been watching the politics show on BBC; someone mentioned collective responsibility. If everyone boycotted popular social media, e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc., perhaps these companies would sit up and take more notice…?

These disgusting people should be tracked down, named and shamed.

I have no interest in football at all but I agree that the horrible things sent to team members is disgraceful. These people are not real fans. I do think that many football fans are a different sort of sports fan (& I have to say both my sons are mad football fans). I have had to watch the odd football match when they were both playing & many a time I had to give a piece of my mind to some of the mindless morons on the touchline- some of whom were friends of theirs!!
I am a very keen rugby fan & I also like cricket but I have never heard anything like the sort of abuse that I understand happened on Sunday. So sad.

The online abuse these 3 young players have suffered is totally unacceptable and unforgivable. However it’s not the first time, David Beckham received death threats when he was given a red card. Gareth Southgate was also subjected to abuse when he missed the penalty. What is wrong with people? It is just a football match

These people are nothing but cowards who hide behind their presumably fake social media accounts.. I am so proud of our young England team who played gave everything they had for us ???

On reflection Re-joining Airbnb recently involved showing proof of identity and took longer than it previously did, but this is an international organisation so presumably it can be done if the organisation is willing but should it be an enforced legal requirement?

The answer is not to react - it is what the bullies want. The less media coverage they are given the less will be the incentive to carry on. If everyone coming across such posts deleted them and blocked the perpertrators they would become pointless.
Talking about racism brings it to the fore. Far better to treat people as people, with no reference to race, religion, culture or skin colour.

Yes definitely, the abuse is terrible, people need to be traced and banned,and prosecuted

Yes

Yes.

And I agree wholeheartedly with the post from Kamiso -- that is very thought-provoking. If AirB&B (and many others) can insist on proof of identity, can't Facebook and Twitter do the same? It wouldn't stop the racism, sexism, etc etc but it would do a lot to put these morons off.

I use only this site - no others. I was on FB once, got trolled, came off, & found I could have a perfectly happy life without it.

I've only seen very positive and supportive posts on FB today, along with petitions asking for signatures requesting the government, tech companies etc to do something about this vile racism.

It's a difficult one, isn't it? I'm not defending any racism but just because people get banned from social media, it doesn't mean those vile sorts aren't still out there. In a way I prefer that they are free to post, just so we can all call them out on it and they get to know they are disgusting everyone else. I have noticed that on Twitter they tend to be those with very few followers - probably because nobody in their right mind wants to follow racists etc. On the whole, I am not keen on banishing anyone, not even the worst. And yet..

Yes, and the sooner the better.

Naming, shaming, a ban on any social media accounts plus a life ban on attending any more football matches is the least they deserve.
It is a criminal offence so, if found, a custodial sentence could be appropriate in some cases

If as Paperbackwriter says there are only a few followers of these Twitter accounts, they are very likely to be bots. i.e. not real people at all

One has been suspended from his job with savills estate agents, so he is certainly not a bot.
More of an arse, I'd say.

Of course, I have to point out that he claims his account was hacked, but I think the police are investigating.
Hopefully they'll uncover the truth; whatever it is.

Maybe it's time for adults to grow up and show some maturity instead of acting like hormonal teenagers.