Katie Price on a 'mission' to launch campaign to target online trolls

The mother-of-five said more needs to be done to prevent unacceptable behaviour online
Emma Powell23 March 2016
The Weekender

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Katie Price has announced plans to launch a campaign to crack down on online abuse after her son was targeted by trolls.

Price, 37, said she is on a mission to campaign about the effects of online bullying after some users set up fake profiles and made nasty comments about Harvey.

After those who posted inappropriate messages declined to defend their comments on Loose Women, the mother-of-five said more needs to be done to monitor unacceptable behaviour on social media.

“Being a celebrity sometimes is an advantage because we can make [people] aware. I’m going to get a t-shirt made, I want loads of celebrities to wear it and just do a big campaign,” she said.

"Something is better than nothing. I think there should be some kind of vetting for social media so people can be tracked down."

The former glamour model – who named and shamed those who had made comments about her son on Twitter – said she does not want to “bully the trolls”.

She continued: "I now want to do a massive campaign about trolls. I don't want it to become we're now going to bully the trolls, that's not my thing.

"I want to do it for everyone, I want to do a big campaign with Loose Women. I know we're off air for two weeks, but I'm telling you when I'm back I am on a mission."

Addressing the commentors she added: "If any of them, their mum, dad, sister, brother, had an accident and became disabled, would they sit there and say things about them? This is my son and he can't defend himself."

Price's co-star Janet Street-Porter explained that of the six commentors the show had contacted, all six refused to appear on air.

"Five of the six trolls we contacted did acknowledge our attempt to communicate, all refused to come on the show, one denied what they’d done," she said. "Three of them acknlowledged the allegations and three apologised.

"What's really shocking is two of the people didn't think what they had posted was offensive. One refused to remove the content, one has taken it down, one absolutely refused point blank, and one has admitted receiving death threats in the aftermath of being labeled a troll.

"All of this is very depressing, the fact that some of these people didn't think those kind of images are offensive. They said it's their sense of humour."

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