Public executions and online abuse – you call that social?

What world are we living in when 13-year-olds are waking up, scrolling through social feeds and seeing videos of live assassinations? Videos of the Charlie Kirk assassination ran across TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, Threads and Bluesky, reaching more than a billion people.

- ZOE KALAR

Many of these videos are still live across these platforms. And with every view, these platforms make more money as they serve more ads and profit directly from tragic loss of life. Trolling, abuse and public death threats reign free on these public platforms, causing harm to millions on a daily basis and accelerating an epidemic of suicide and self-harm. And now public assassinations and public celebration of these heinous crimes.

As government leaders around the world call on social platforms to remove harmful content and improve moderation for the protection of people, the tech leaders continue to ignore these urgent requests and further reduce protections.

It doesn't have to be this way.

I saw this problem seven years ago and set about working on an alternative. A better way. Young people don't have to be lying in their beds feeling lonely and isolated. I thought that they - and all people could have a choice.