Mark Murphy: Would we be less grumpy without social media?

What was once a fun place to be - sharing photographs, reading about what people were up to and getting trustworthy news - has in many cases become nothing more than a cesspit.

The internet has always been like the wild west without a sheriff in town but now it’s even worse, with people actively spreading disinformation or let’s call it what is - lies - and using these platforms to stir up hatred and division.

All you seem to get these days is people moaning all the time. Are our lives really that miserable? Have we become a nation of Victor Meldrew clones? It certainly seems like it.

Mark thinks social media is making people grumpier - like a nation of Victor Meldrews (Image: Archant) Social media is not good for anyone’s mental health these days, especially our children. It’s definitely not a place for under 16s anymore. In fact, the internet is so full of bad influences, we need to seriously look at ways to limit what young people can see. They are being exposed to some seriously nasty adult stuff and to some questionable so-called influencers like Andrew Tate etc.

We owe it to our youngsters to protect them and let them grow to know what’s right and wrong and to have healthy respectful relationships with each other. I know it’s hard for parents to see what their kids are doing and looking at online but we all must try harder.

The social media platform X, formerly Twitter, is one of the worst at the moment with hateful posts stirring up division and in some cases violence. Many are fake accounts or so-called bots from other countries who’s sole purpose is to disrupt other countries like the UK.

Mark is thinking of coming off X (Image: PA) It’s got worse since Elon Musk took over the platform and users are voting with their keyboards and leaving X in massive numbers. Users are instead going to a platform called Blue Sky which is said to be far nicer than X and at first glance it is but how long before that gets hijacked by extremists and bots stirring things up there too?

I’m pleased to see the Australian government is trying to do something about it and it looks like the UK government is thinking like that too. The technology secretary Peter Kyle speaking on the BBC said he would “do what it takes” to keep people and especially children safe online.

I can’t help but think the technology companies could do far more to protect people, especially from fake accounts. If someone wants an account on, say, X, why couldn’t they go through the same background checks banks and other companies have to do to see if the person is genuine? That way, if someone oversteps the mark online, they could be stripped of their membership. Complaining to these companies at the moment is next to useless. They say they care but do they really? 

As well as restricting social media, perhaps we should look at limiting the use of smartphones for young people too? We’re bringing up a generation who are glued to their screens and in many cases don’t know to cope with the real world and real people. This is a big issue for employers, with new recruits constantly looking at their phones and too scared to ring someone up and talk to them.

Parliament is looking at a private member's bill which is examining how to make our children’s digital experience much better and safer. Frankly, it can’t come soon enough.

Mark says Mark Whitehouse complained about a lot less than we are seeing now (Image: Getty Images) In the meantime, it’s up to us to ensure our children and grandchildren aren’t being exposed to adult or unsuitable content. Are kids are growing up too quickly and in many cases with a warped view of society? Some youngsters carry knives and even machetes. We’re seeing rival gangs killing each other. Much of this is down to what they see glamorised online. I’m no Mary Whitehouse but my goodness what we’re seeing now is far worse than the thing she wanted curbing on TV.

We must do much more to protect our children, physically, mentally and in the online world, we owe it to them.