We need to make the internet a friendlier place for all
Social media can be a wonderful tool, or a powerful weapon, says Derbyshire Dales MP SARAH DINES
WHEN I asked if the Ashbourne Telegraph would allow me a bi-weekly column, my aim was to give you an insight into my thoughts, opinions and my work.
This edition isn’t as much about my work in Parliament, as most will be, but I do think it’s an important and interesting topic.
Social media is a brilliant thing. During lockdown, it’s been a vital form of communication between family, friends and to get local news and updates.
Community support groups across the constituency have done an incredible job of coordinating and supporting residents during this very difficult time and I for one enjoy an uplifting video or story when scrolling through social media.
When I set out on my quest to become your MP, I decided that I would be as visible as possible, as transparent as possible and hopefully as approachable as possible.
Using Facebook, I engage with over 1,000 constituents on a daily basis and I appreciate that technology allows me to give voters a glimpse into what I am up to in Parliament, my general views and to actively engage with me.
Recently I introduced an assembly called “Be Internet Legends” to children at Darley Dale Primary School.
Be Internet Legends is Google and Parent Zone’s online safety programme – supporting children, families and primary schools across the country.
The programme is designed to teach children how to become internet legends by being safe online while you use the internet.
Be Internet Legends introduces five key pillars, to stay sharp, alert, secure, kind and brave. It has been designed by psychologists and online safety experts with input from children themselves.
The pillars deliver important behavioural messages – to be kind and brave online and speak to a trusted adult about anything worrying or confusing.
After the assembly I spent 10 minutes going through the latest comments on my Facebook page or ones tagging me on Twitter (which I don’t really use.) Some of them were definitely not kind.
I am not referring to the comments from individuals who have a different political persuasion to me or those that disagree.
I welcome these comments, these are an important part of democracy.
It’s the comments calling me “evil”, commenting on my weight or appearance, or constantly posting to tell me they think I am terrible at my job.
I hear from colleagues sometimes of death threats, vandalism of their offices and truly despicable online abuse, which is of course reported promptly to the police and thankfully the police act swiftly.
Unfortunately, attacks on physical appearance, seems to be predominantly aimed at women MPS.
I am incredibly proud to be the first female MP in Derbyshire Dales, if I must take people criticising my appearance, then so be it.
Comments like this won’t stop me from doing my best for you. I am immensely proud to serve you in Parliament.
By becoming an MP, I have put my head above the parapet and with that unfortunately I have sometimes become a target for online abuse.
As much as I wish I didn’t have to deal with it, I am resilient enough to do so. Instead, I think to our young people, teenagers or younger who have enough to deal with, without getting abuse online from anonymous people behind keyboards.
People who are vulnerable, or at a low point in their lives and in putting themselves out on to the digital world, they open themselves up to danger. These are the people I am concerned about.
I ask, if you have ever typed a message or comment to someone, that you knew would upset them, why would you do it?
At the moment, more children are using the internet for learning le and to keep in touch with their friends and famil family and it is vital that child children are given the tools to m make sure they stay safe on online.
My sincere hope is t that future generations, through the work of organisations like the one a above, are given the tools to be kinder online than som some of my generation and in turn, social media beco becomes a safer, friendlier place for debate.
By becoming an MP, I have put my head above the parapet and with that I have become a target for abuse.