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Business Daily: How the pandemic feeds online trolling

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How the pandemic feeds online trolling

16/03/2021 GMT

BBC World Service - Business Daily, How the pandemic feeds online trolling

Lockdown frustrations have led to a rise in people intentionally upsetting others online

Lockdown frustrations have led to a rise in people intentionally upsetting others online. Are there any truly safe spaces on the internet?

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we behave on the internet. Online trolling is on the rise as people turn to social media to take out their lockdown frustrations.

Marie Keyworth hears from Lisa Forte, who used to work for the UK police's Cyber Crime Unit and has faced online abuse herself. Virginia Mantouvalou says that a social media platform shouldn’t be viewed as “safe space” to express whatever views we wish. But isn't one of the points of social media to connect with like-minded people freely? Marie puts that to Will Oremus, a senior writer for tech magazine OneZero.

Our posts and comments can incur the wrath of not just online mobs, but of our employers too. And, as journalist and author Jon Ronson explains, the collective online herd mentality leaves no room for forgiveness, or redemption. 

Producer: Sarah Treanor

(Picture: a man holds his head in his hands and looks at his computer in despair. Credit: Getty Images.)

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