To help combat the spread of misinformation and cyberbullying, British actor Idris Elba laid out a simple suggestion to all social media platforms: Verify every user.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Elba said the process public figures must go through in order to have a blue checkmark displayed to their name should be expanded to all social media users.
By allowing anonymous users, people may be empowered to say whatever they want because there are little to no consequences, he argued.
“People in the public eye get verified on social media, (symbolized by a blue tick), the process of verification requires them to prove their IDENTITY, so everyone knows WHO is speaking,” said Elba. “Social media companies should make this mandatory for all users.”
Elba, 48, expressed how he views the current state of social media, saying it is “like boarding a plane and not having to show I.D.”
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To further accentuate his point, the Golden Globe winner quickly noted the practice would “never happen” in real life.
“If cowards are being supported by a veil of privacy and secrecy, then social media is not a safe space,” wrote Elba. “It is an aeroplane that allows travelers to wear balaclavas.”
He signed off his passionate message with, “If cowards want to spout racial rhetoric then say it with your name, not your username.”
The suggestion drew mixed reaction from Elba’s 4.7 million followers.
Some applauded his suggestion to make the internet safer while others admitted they don’t trust social media companies with their personal information.
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