Media professionals will tomorrow take part in a free webinar discussing ‘Media & Anonymity: Widening the Divide?’

The event has been organized by Citizens Uprooting Racism in Bermuda (CURB) who said that guest media panelists will be media professionals Maya Palacio, Ayo Johnson, Thaao Dill and Dexter Smith, Editor of The Royal Gazette, with activist and community organiser Ryan Robinson-Perinchief.

A spokesperson for CURB said: “The debate promises to be lively and informative and will discuss the impact of anonymity on social media and whether in the Bermuda context it is creating a widening divide.

“Does it pose negative social outcomes for public safety and public health at the individual and group level? Does anonymity contribute to online disinformation, misinformation, misogyny and racial/LGBTQI and elder abuse et al?

“Is it time for a degree of regulatory oversight for private companies that design and use social media platforms for their private gain to be held accountable for their overall negative social impact through permitting the use of anonymity?

“Have you been offended by anonymous commenters on online media platforms? Have you experienced online abuse, or felt frustrated as political conversations get derailed by insults or inaccuracy?

“Have those who are already vulnerable or marginalised been hit the worst? The digital-distance of comment sections and social media allow for persons to make anti-social or confrontational comments that, despite ongoing attempts to mitigate, continue to pose negative outcomes for public discourse and, in some instances, the safety and health of individuals.

“In the Bermuda context do online news media platforms require regulation for the prevalence of anonymous, pseudonymous and unverified users on their platforms?”

The webinar will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, March 2, from 6.30pm to 8pm. People can register for free here.