Cases of trolling have become so extreme that there needs to be a ‘social media police force’ if victims of online abuse ever hope to see action taken.
That is the view of Lee McAteer, co-founder of £4.1m-turnover business Invasion Camp Group, who grew all his brands through social media but has received nasty messages – including on Christmas Day.
“It would be phenomenal to be able to report to an actual person who could say ‘this is right’, or ‘this is wrong’,” he told ÀϾÅÆ·²èCloud. “All of a sudden it becomes a deterrent to young people [thinking of trolling someone].”
The businessman, who was named ‘Britain’s Best Boss’Â by the Daily Mirror, suggested that a social media task force could handle reports of online abuse and trolling in a way that neither the police nor social media platforms have the capacity to provide.
McAteer was speaking to ÀϾÅÆ·²èCloud after appearing as part of a panel for its latest event, ‘Social Media: Friend or Foe?’, where he shared his ongoing battles with online trolls.
‘Without social media we wouldn’t have a brand at all – we started with no money but saw the writing on the wall. So many other companies were still old school & using posters and we saw the business opportunity to be cost effective,’ says
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“It’s obvious that the police aren’t going to do anything about it,” he claimed. “I know first-hand that even though they know there’s a case, they haven’t got the resources to look into it.
“[The police] are saying that every fourth word coming out of people’s mouths is ‘Facebook’, or ‘Twitter’!”
McAteer has a background in law, which informs his insight.
“The police don’t understand [trolling], but then a lot of legal professionals don’t understand it,” he explained.
“I remember when I was doing my training contract. I said that there was a need for social media departments… I was laughed at.
“I think it’s fair to say: who’s laughing now?”