Cyberclinic: Should I report offensive posts on the internet?
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I have had an email from a "deeply exasperated" reader by the name of Andy, who had noticed someone had posted racist comments on YouTube below a video of Jay-Z's Glastonbury performance, and wondered what he could do about it. On the surface, it was a fairly straightforward query – but as I was about to shoot over the details of YouTube's complaints procedure, I suddenly realised that if I'd noticed those comments, I probably wouldn't bother.
I've almost become impervious to mindlessness and stupidity on the net; it seems to be everywhere, so I've developed the ability to ignore it rather than challenge it. But surely this can't be a good thing?
But while misguided or even offensive comments are causing rational thinkers to shake their heads in despair and log out, it gives the casual browser the impression that the ill-informed have the most powerful voice. In his book Counterknowledge, Damian Thompson stresses the importance of fighting back against the deafening online noise which might suggest that, for example, most of us believe that 9/11 and 7/7 were both inside jobs. Full marks to those who are conducting this battle, because challenging deeply entrenched opinions can be a futile and thoroughly depressing experience.
Of course, our exasperated reader will still be eager to report those racist comments to YouTube – and understandably so – but it's far less straightforward than flagging offensive videos; you need to go to this page (d95.com/complaint), click "Report abuse", then "User harassment", then "Continue", then "Preventing unwanted communication", then "Contact us". I told you it was long-winded.
So my email reply shamefacedly offered a cliché of non-confrontation: "Leave it, Andy, he's not worth it." Because if you start trying to police that kind of thing, you'll just end up losing your mind.
Diagnosis required
Email any technology gripes to cyberclinic@independent.co.uk, or join the discussions on the blog at www.independent.co.uk/cyberclinic. Currently under discussion: Are we witnessing the death of voicemail?
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments