The internet should be a place where people can connect with friends and family from all over the world but unfortunately it has turned into a place where real evil can take form.
I experienced this evil six years ago when I was 13.
The bullying started in the summer holidays. When I came home from being away I saw nasty comments had been put on social media and rumours had been spread about me.
So hearing the news that social media firms could face sanctions if more isn’t done to protect their users is music to my ears.
I was vulnerable on the internet and had no real safety net. I was being tagged in photos that would upset me and I could see everything being said about me online; it felt like the whole world was against me.
Reporting the comments people made about me never achieved anything and there was certainly no immediate action taken to protect me or others seeing what had been said.
It was a time of deep sadness of loneliness and it felt like I was in a never ending black hole. I turned to self-harm as a way of coping.
Not only did social media become the place where I was faced with constant bullying, but I remember seeing various posts about suicide and self-harm, portraying them as though it were something beautiful, when this couldn’t be further from reality.
If social media firms don’t take steps to make a safer online world, I truly believe action must be taken against them.
The Online Harms white paper has said that if social media firms don’t tackle this content on their platforms, senior executives could be held personally liable, fines may be issued and access to websites could be blocked.
There will always be trolls who use the internet as a battlefield to cause pain and harm to others, however, with an independent regulator monitoring content and with the possibility of punishment, I believe social media sites will be forced to take action.
The main reason I went back online was because I want to be a voice for those who feel they can’t or don’t have one.
It is just sad that it has taken this possible hit to their profits to spur social media firms into action, given that innocent lives have been lost due to cyberbullying and the glorification of self-harm on the internet.
At the minute many are debating the fine line between what is protecting us and what is hindering us, but when you’ve seen how scary the online world can be, such a proactive response feels necessary.
Yes, the real world can be a scary place, but unlike the online world, you can escape it. You can curl up in bed and shut out the outside, but the online world is with you constantly – on our phones, laptops and even TVs.
It is never enough to just block your tormenter or dangerous posts, the social media firms have to get involved.
I personally love the internet, it has brought so many positives to my life; I went travelling last year and it allowed me to stay connected to my family whilst also keeping in touch with the amazing people I met along the way.
And social media used correctly can be incredible. At its heart, it is not a bad place.
It’s why I still use it, even after my experience. However, this time I’m more cautious.
I do not use it anywhere near as much as I used to – I use it to watch videos and message my friends rather than post about my life.
The experience taught me that not everything is as it seems so I try to take some time away from my phone.
The main reason I went back online was because I want to be a voice for those who feel they can’t or don’t have one.
If social media firms abide by these rules I think we will see a huge change for good. Social media, especially as a teenager, doesn’t need to be a dread-filled experience.
However, I believe that until we see these changes, sadly we need to learn how to safeguard ourselves against abuse and still be able to express ourselves.
Online harms are something we face every single day, but it doesn’t have to be like this. I am so glad to hear that finally people are listening and understanding what the repercussions are of this content.
Knowledge is power and there is nothing more powerful than like-minded people working in unison.
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