TOXIC SITES MUST DO MORE TO STIFLE HATE
MP’s warning over online fury
THE first British female Sikh MP has urged social media sites to do more to tackle the scourge of online hate.
Shadow Health Minister Preet Kaur Gill also condemned protests outside the homes of people who hold views others disagree with.
Ms Gill said: “Some platforms have become much more toxic and they’re not doing enough to address hate, especially directed towards women.
“What we shouldn’t normalise is that it’s okay to be threatened, intimidated and harassed.
“I don’t think that’s great in a democracy. Democracies are about debating issues.
“You may not agree but there is a way of being able to talk about very difficult issues without having to shout at people or harass them in any way or say you’re going to come and protest outside their homes.”
Ms Gill spoke about her experiences on social media during an appearance on the Mirror’s YouTube show Party Games. She also told of her route to becoming an MP, including her dad’s influence, and her former career as a social worker.
Ms Gill revealed her two daughters, aged 12 and 13, help her strike a balance between being a mum and a politician.
She said: “They really ground me so when I come home, it’s like, ‘Mum, can you put the phone away? Can you spend time with us?’ And I enjoy that. I love talking to them and hearing about the things that they do.”