Online abuse is Strictly wrong. We must control the trolls.. and quickly
It’s a sad day when a woman considers quitting her job because of online abuse but that’s the reality for many of us on television.
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has hinted she may leave after being on the receiving end of continuous trolling during the last series.
She said it got so bad that she had to seek medical help to manage her anxiety. So I really wouldn’t blame her if she decided to call it a day.
Being on a big TV show is always going to attract attention and certain decisions will be criticised and debated – that’s par for the course.
But when people feel they have a licence to abuse and insult you, they are crossing a line.
I’ve I heard the arguments that if you’re you in the public eye and use social media, me you’re “fair game” – but Shirley Shi is adjudicating a ballroom bal dancing competition, tion for Christ’s sake.
It’s It hardly a hotbed of political pol discussion or steeped ste in controversy.
It’s It a family show with sequins, seq feathers and foxtrots. fox I tweet while watching wa it to support my favourite fav dancers or give a thumbsumbs- down dow emoji to Craig Revel Harwood’s harsh har critiques. But I struggle to get into the mindset of a troll who picks up their phone to send 120 characters of bile to someone on the telly. Sadly, it’s something I also know too well. My own TV show, A Place In The Sun, is an hour of pure escapism. It does wwhat it says on the tin and I love presenting. Yet, witwithout fail, after every epiepisode airs, there will be comcomments on everything frofrom my accent, race, appappearance and weight. AnytAnything is up for attack in troll land.la
I have no problem with viewersi nott enjoyingj an episode or disliking the properties shown because feedback is helpful but let’s leave it at that. There’s no need to get personal. It’s now got to the point where I no longer read or engage with comments, which means I probably miss out on the lovely messages but it’s about self-preservation – something Shirley is weighing up right now.
This kind of trolling speaks to the wider problem of how to keep women safe online and, since one in five of us have been harassed in this way, social media providers need to have more duty of care and ban the abusers.
I’m tired of repeating the case that every user should have to verify their identity because so many hide behind the cloak of anonymity.
If they’re found to be sending nasty messages, there should be a warning followed by a ban. And that should not just include people in the public eye, it’s needed for everyone.
Other safeguards are really needed against harmful or illegal content, sexual harassment and cyber stalking.
The Online Safety Bill in the UK Parliament is a huge opportunity for the Government to put the onus on the social media companies to self-regulate and hold perpetrators to account with an Ofcom-style set of rules.
Real change can, and should, happen – and quickly.
No one should have their life made hell by online trolls.
I hope Shirley makes a glittering comeback, showing them they won’t win.
After each episode, there will be comments on everything from my accent, weight and race