The unaccountability of posting on social media websites has provided cowardly bullies the perfect platform to spread hate.  Irish Senator Eamonn Coghlan proposed requiring a payment per post to stop cyberbullying as it continues to lead to disaster in young teens. 

The freedom an individual has on facebook and other social media websites is starting to call for reform as cyber bullying related suicides cases are too often a topic of discussion.  The trolls of the internet post with no fear of repercussions and no care for the human on the other end reading the words.  The death or pain of any single child will never be worth allowing unfiltered posts and comments from worry free, faceless internet users. 

Other people’s concerns are with the most social media company’s lack of systems to take down harmful posts.  Websites like Facebook rely on only users to report the constant cyber abuse.  Communication Minister, Pat Rabbitte, shares that concern and said, "They should be prepared in the host country to enter into sensible protocols about take-down policy."

Until these protocols exist some abusive posts will go unreported and therefore written in ink on victims pages. 

 Irish senator Eamonn Coghlan proposed paying money for each post or comment a person makes on social media websites.  This would automatically cause the individual to think about their comment and question if its “worth” having other people see.  There’s no doubt this strategy would work to an extent but such a major change in companies, with mostly friendly users,  just doesn't seem fair or realistic.  Facebook’s headquarters for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East are all in Dublin and would be subject to Coghlan’s proposal. 

Coghlan had another idea dealing with prosecuting internet users who have broken the law.  Most websites do not require more than an email address to be a member, giving internet bullies the opportunity to mask themselves with made up IP addresses.  Coghlan’s second proposal would put an end to this by requiring users to attach a passport number to IP addresses.  Most would second guess their posts knowing their identity and accountability are attached to every word typed. 

As long as there’s people there will be bullying.  So it’s up to government officials, like Eamonn Coghlan, to recognize ways to make bullying difficult and bullies accountable.