New Campaign Aims to Reduce Online Violence

A new national campaign in Scotland, titled 'Quit Fighting For Likes', aims to curb the spread of violent content among youth on social media. Launched by the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit and partners, the initiative encourages children to reconsider sharing violent incidents online, especially following a reported 50% increase in violent incidents in schools since the pre-pandemic era. Meanwhile, Ireland's Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has labeled children's social media use a 'public health crisis', citing extensive evidence of its harms, including links to self-harm and violence against women. He emphasized the need for government action and new laws to protect children from harmful online content. Additionally, a report from New Zealand highlights social media as the primary platform for offensive material, with significant portions of Māori, Pasifika, and Muslim communities expressing concerns over harmful content. This report underscores the negative effects of exposure to discriminatory views, with many advocating for stronger limits on freedom of expression to mitigate harm.