This week, we discuss the push to abolish anonymity on social media, as a means to preventing online abuse.

Policymakers have been grappling with the challenges of trolling and online abuse for a few years, but it has come into the spotlight after the complaints of several prominent Australian footballers and athletes.

While enforcing real identity seems an obvious solution, Arj and Jordan debate its effectiveness and explore its adverse side effects on other internet users.

Links:

Article about abuse of NRL players (Fox Sports) https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/social-media-abuse-in-sport-special-investigation-latrell-mitchells-dire-warning-of-youth-suicide/news-story/061024cdebe27ccc4f3a73cd4f31ec72

Comments by AFL inclusion manager (ABC News) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-09/tanya-hosch-says-afl-must-continue-to-stamp-out-racism/100360890

Article about Anti-Trolling Bill (SMH) https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-government-s-plan-to-unmask-online-trolls-creates-legal-confusion-20211128-p59cuu.html

Article about Korea's ban on anonymity (Ars Technica) https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2011/08/what-south-korea-can-teach-us-about-online-anonymity/

UK Government inquiry into anonymity https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1123426/Report_into_the_Connection_between_Abuse_and_Anonymity.pdf

Credits:

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