Isolation over coronavirus will mean people turning to social media – now is the time to really ‘be kind’

Even the world wide web’s creator, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is aware the internet can be a dark place for women and girls especially. We all need to be careful over the coming weeks, writes Janet Street-Porter

Smartphones, social media and coronavirus isolation is not a great mix (iStock)

Coronavirus means millions of us will spend days and even weeks cooped up at home. However, instead of being a safe place, modern house arrest should come with its own health warnings.

With time on our hands, the majority of us will be glued to our smartphones, using social media to stay in touch. In the hands of the young and impressionable, the vulnerable and the naive, the internet can result in mental and physical harm. In the space of three decades, the web has transformed our lives in positive ways and broadened our vision – but it’s also destroyed people’s health and fostered revolting behaviour. Young women in particular are suffering, targeted by cyberbullies and those who would exploit their insecurities about sex and body image.

The creator of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, is so concerned he has just published an open letter to governments and tech companies claiming that “the web is not working for women and girls”. His charitable foundation joined forces with the Girl Guides to publish research showing that more than half of young girls have suffered online abuse. More worrying was the finding that 87 per cent thought the situation was getting worse.