Pressure to curb social media giants

Six in ten ‘back tougher rules’

THE vast majority of people believe social media companies are failing to tackle illegal activity, the spread of extremist content and bullying on their sites, a poll has found.

A damning study confirms the damage done to the reputation of firms such as Facebook and Twitter by disclosures about what they allow on their sites.

Fewer than one in four trusts social media, with widespread demand for tougher regulation, according to the Edelman Trust Barometer study.

Seven in ten of those questioned say the US social media giants do not do enough to tackle illegal or unethical behaviour.

The same proportion say the sites are not preventing extremist content being shared between users or doing enough to tackle bullying.

Demands for tougher regulation are backed by 64 per cent of the public.

The same proportion says such firms are not transparent enough about their activities.

More than six in ten say such firms are selling people’s data without their knowledge. Around one in three do not think social media is a force for good in society.

Ed Williams, chief executive officer of marketing and public relations firm Edelman UK, said: ‘After a flood of negative headlines in 2017, it’s time these companies sat up and listened. The public want action on key issues related to online protection, and to see their concerns addressed through better regulation.’

Facebook, Twitter and other online giants have faced intense criticism from MPs over their failure to remove hate material from their sites. They have also been accused of failing to remove fake news or assist police investigations.

More than 33,000 respondents took part in online interviews from October 28 to November 20. Tory MP Dam-

By Jack Doyle Executive Political Editor

‘The public want action’

ian Collins, chairman of the digital, culture, media and sport select committee said: ‘Social media was supposed to bring people together.

‘But, in some ways, it is increasingly pushing people further apart, sowing messages of hate, and creating a forum where people holding different beliefs are open to vile abuse.’

He added: ‘To restore trust the companies need to give people more control over the content they are exposed to on social media platforms, and act faster against known sources of harmful content, including fake news.’

Meanwhile, emergency services’ callouts to people filming pranks to put on YouTube have risen by more than two-thirds in five years.

Police, fire and ambulance crews responded to at least 2,794 incidents related to the video-sharing website last year, compared to around 1,680 in 2012, according to data released under freedom of information laws.

Prank videos are estimated to earn Google-owned YouTube millions of pounds.

Recent cases include a Wolverhampton man who was rescued after cementing his head into a microwave.

A fire service commander said last month: ‘The service charge for that would be £650. We are not going to charge because his life was in danger.’