Twitter has taken a new approach to handling cyber-bullying by expanding features to target hacking and impersonations. According to Buzzfeed, Twitter is polling users asking if any have ever experienced abuse on any social network, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. According to CNET, Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, released a statement in early February saying, the company hasn't been good "at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform ... for years. It’s not a secret and the rest of the world talks about it every day. We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day.” Costolo made it clear that Twitter struggles with controlling the issues of abuse and the company is well aware of it. Gabby Sabalones, a senior majoring in international cultural studies from Indiana, explained her thoughts on cyber-bullying: “I just found out recently that this has become a problem. I think it is sad. Something about the Internet is that it makes it so you think that nobody knows who you are; it takes away your face and so somehow in our minds it takes away responsibility too. The things people say on comments on YouTube is horrible because they are real people.”Other students find it interesting as to why Twitter is starting to attempt to take control of the situation. Cambria Graves, a sophomore majoring in international cultural studies from Colorado, said, “I don’t know if [Twitter] can do anything about it because people are mean in general but, I think it is something important to know because it is their site that people are posting these things on. I don’t know if they can do anything about it, but just knowing what is going on and the extent of the bullying is important.” Shenia Jacobo, a senior majoring in international cultural studies from Arizona, agrees with Graves. Jacobo said, “You can’t have social media without cyber-bullying. It only makes sense though, because people bully and say hurtful things against each other on Twitter and other social media [sites]. By Twitter doing this, they are taking the issue and trying to figure out how they can work it out and be a part of the solution. I am sure they are well aware that their users abuse each other.” Uploaded March 10, 2015
Writer: Alssa Troyanek
