Facebook and Twitter could face 'online abuse' tax

Here's the BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-41566833

What do you think? Will it address social media issues or have no impact?

Reply 1

tyrell221

Good idea, they dont pay enough taxes anyway and get huge tax breaks, maybe they should contribute to helping get rid of a problem they created

Reply 2

username521617

They've got "trolling" on there? Seriously? Do these morons even know what that is? No, of course they don't.

Anyway, instead of this, I think more should be done to raise public awareness of the 'block' function. That and people should stop spending their lives on Facebook and Twitter where mean comments and trolls are apparently far too traumatising for people these days.

Here's an idea, children. Instead of worrying about what some jackass said about your fifteenth selfie this week, get off your smart phone and do something else. Go to the mall. Read a book. Experiment with drugs and alcohol. Find a dead body in the woods.

Reply 3

Guru Jason

I feel like the press and a lot of the general public doesn't even know what trolling is. I mean cyber bullying, sure deal crack down on that as that can actually harm people but trolling by it's original definition doesnt.

(edited 6 years ago)

Reply 4

mojojojo101

Original post by tyrell221

Good idea, they dont pay enough taxes anyway and get huge tax breaks, maybe they should contribute to helping get rid of a problem they created

How naiieve are you?

They already avoid any evade any tax they can (as do plenty of other businesses), what makes you think they are going to pay any other tax imposed on them?

Reply 5

tyrell221

Original post by mojojojo101

How naiieve are you?

They already avoid any evade any tax they can (as do plenty of other businesses), what makes you think they are going to pay any other tax imposed on them?

I hope you're just taking the piss because that spelling is awful.

Anyways, I think you'll find it's you who's naive. Those corporations avoid generic business taxes by exploiting loopholes. If they make this loophole proof and specific to those tech giants it can easily work.

Reply 6

FriendlyPenguin

Original post by Dandaman1

They've got "trolling" on there? Seriously? Do these morons even know what that is? No, of course they don't.

The Home Secretary believes that online counter-terrorism experts are the guys who "know the right hashtags". Politicians in general are 50+ year olds who think encryption can be outlawed. They have no clue about anything internet related, they rely on intelligence agencies to tell them what to do.

Anyway, instead of this, I think more should be done to raise public awareness of the 'block' function. That and people should stop spending their lives on Facebook and Twitter where mean comments and trolls are apparently far too traumatising for people these days.

The block function breaks my right to be offended.

Here's an idea, children. Instead of worrying about what some jackass said about your fifteenth selfie this week, get off your smart phone and do something else. Go to the mall. Read a book. Experiment with drugs and alcohol. Find a dead body in the woods.

Wow, did you really just call me a child? Reported. You just cost TSR £1000.

Reply 7

Stiff Little Fingers

Original post by Dandaman1

They've got "trolling" on there? Seriously? Do these morons even know what that is? No, of course they don't.

Cyber bulling has been called trolling (and cyber bullies called trolls) for quite a while in the press now. Is it right? No, their definition doesn't match what trolling actually is, but if they're referring to it as baiting or being a WUM instead, then it doesn't really matter.

Reply 8

Retired_Messiah

I really hate how useless government people are at tech stuff.

Facebook and Twitter could be asked to pay for action against the "undeniable suffering" social media can cause, the culture secretary has said.
Cyber-bullying, trolling, abuse and under-age access to porn will be targeted in plans drawn up by Karen Bradley to make the online world safer.

Facebook literally doesn't allow porn, and afaik twitter at least has a lil filter thing like "yo this is a bit spicy lads" before showing you anything (somebody who actually uses twitter on the reg can verify/elaborate on my bs there). Their definition of trolling is shoddy as well, obv.

Almost a fifth of 12 to 15-year-olds have seen something they found worrying or nasty, and almost half of adults have seen something that has upset or offended them, on social media - according to the government.

Presumably the stats for people's real life encounters in the great outdoors with actual people aren't that different? I don't see how this is the fault of the social media platforms.

Ms Bradley said that the government "could legislate in the future", adding that any changes to existing law would be underpinned by the following principles:

•

What is unacceptable offline, should be unacceptable online

•

All users should be empowered to manage online risks and stay safe

•

Technology companies have a responsibility to their users

The block function is already theeeerrrreeee aaaaaAAA what else are they meant to doooo?

In response to the consultation, Facebook said: "Our priority is to make Facebook a safe place for people of all ages

Could've sworn facebook had an age limit when I joined... no? Am I high?

My main beef tho is seeing as problems with social media stem almost entirely from the users of it rather than the people that run it (follow some obscure meme pages on facebook and see how much they complain about relatively harmless stuff getting taken down), that to me doesn't suggest that the companies should start paying for it. Responsibility should lie with those actually responsible, yeah? Am I high? Hello?