Brits say social media must do more to block harmful content

More than two-thirds (68%) of UK adults demand that social media platforms do more to forestall racism, homophobia and misogyny on their platforms, in accordance to a UK authorities survey.

The survey of more than 1,000 adults additionally revealed that 38% has seen such content up to now month. The majority (84%) of adults questioned mentioned that they had been involved in regards to the content.

A authorities invoice to regulate social media firms and to shield folks from harmful content is at present going via Parliament.

Introduced in March and at present at its report stage in Parliament, the Online Safety Bill units in legislation guidelines about how on-line platforms ought to behave to higher shield their customers. It will introduce prison sanctions for tech firm executives and senior managers, alongside additional prison offences.

Nadine Dorries, digital secretary, mentioned that the survey revealed that individuals help tighter management of social media.

“It is clear people across the UK are worried about this issue, and as our landmark Online Safety Bill reaches the next crucial stage in Parliament, we’re a big step closer to holding tech giants to account and making the internet safer for everyone in our country.”

The survey discovered that 78% of respondents need social media firms to be clear about what kind of content is and isn’t allowed on their platform.

Almost half (45%) mentioned they are going to cease utilizing or will cut back their use of social media in the event that they see no motion from social media giants akin to Facebook, Twitter and Tiktok.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) mentioned that the protection of ladies and ladies throughout the nation is a high precedence: “The measures we’re introducing through the Online Safety Bill will mean tech companies have to tackle illegal content and activity on their services, women will have more control over who can communicate with them and what kind of content they see on major platforms, and they will be better able to report abuse.”

The authorities mentioned that the brand new legal guidelines will shield youngsters, sort out unlawful content and shield free speech, and pressure social media platforms to uphold their acknowledged phrases and circumstances.

If they don’t, the regulator Ofcom will work with platforms to guarantee they comply and may have the facility to high quality firms up to 10% of their annual international turnover – which may attain billions of kilos – to pressure them to fulfil their obligations and even block non-compliant websites.