Welcome to the 2018 Christmas Debate for young people. The motion: 'This house believes social media has made us a society of bullies'. Hundreds of school and A level students from across London have joined us @rcpsych. Follow the action here #rcpsychdebate
Debate chair Dr Jim Bolton asks the young audience to vote before the #rcpsychdebate - has social media made us a society of bullies? Oh it's close - pretty much 50-50. I wonder how that will change as a result of what the speakers say.
First up, Dr Elizabeth Masterson takes the stage, proposing the motion. She starts off on a positive note: #socialmedia lets you stay in touch with friends. But, she says, it allows anonymity - and that allows bullying to thrive. #rcpsychdebate
When we're talking about bullying we mean abusive and hurtful comments and images, rumours, intimidation - Dr Masterson sets the scene. 4 / 10 users of instagram in a survey felt they had been cyber bullied, she tells #rcpsychdebate
Being called offensive names and having false rumours spread about you are the most common forms of bullying Dr Masterson says. And it can have horrendous consequences, even leading to people feeling suicidal. #rcpsychdebate
Stepping up to oppose the motion, Dr Omer Moghraby says social media gives us a voice. Do we want to go back to a time before, when we can't share photos with friends around the world? #rcpsychdebate
I know there is bullying on social media - but bullies have existed long before social media, Dr Moghraby says. Social media doesn't create these people, they've always been there. A key point for the young audience to ponder #rcpsychdebate
Social media doesn't change us but can help us learn to be better people, says Dr Moghraby, concluding by urging the audience to vote against the motion. #rcpsychdebate
It's back to the team who're in favour of the motion. @Derektracy1 says social media brings out the worst in us. Social media is a tool, yes. So is a knife. And both can hurt us. #rcpsychdebate
You have social media profiles with more than 150 friends says @Derektracy1 - they're not your friends. He's taking a controversial line here... but the audience seem to be enjoying it. #rcpsychdebate
What will sustain you is deeper and more emotionally complex than can be captured in 280 characters. You don't need it. Hard hitting stuff from @Derektracy1 - has he convinced the audience to vote in favour of the audience? #rcpsychdebate
Finally Dr Mark Salter argues against the motion. Bullying has always been around and here's a weird idea: bullying can make us better people. Hmmm. The audience will need some convincing on that one #rcpsychdebate
Social media can teach us not to be bullies. When someone is bullying, the online community should use social media to call them out. Let's work together to diss the bullies... and we'll get ahead of #socialmedia. Great stuff Dr Salter #rcpsychdebate
Hearty applause from the audience - they've heard four great speakers, now it's time to hear from audience members... here's the first q, do parents play a part in cyber bullying? #rcpsychdebate
Dr Salter and @Derektracy1 agree on that one - yes parents do have an advisory role #rcpsychdebate.
Social media always allows people to express their negative views so it's hard to challenge bullies in the way Dr Salter suggested, a young audience member says. Great point! The panel accept it, but believe there's room for the online community doing things better #rcpsychdebate
Wouldn't removing social media mean restricting freedom of speech? an audience member says. Great challenge! The panel are divided on that, as they would be. Dr Masterson says we shouldn't restrict speech altogether but certain forms of speech are not acceptable #rcpsychdebate
It's time for the vote! And those opposing the motion have won... 38 votes for, 120 against. The audience didn't accept that social media has made us a society of bullies, and quite a big swing from pre-debate vote. Excitement as the event ends - ppl enjoyed it! #rcpsychdebate
This afternoon we've been re-running the #rcpsychdebate for young people with around 150 more school and A level students. This morning's debate ended with the young audience voting against the motion... will this afternoon's young people think differently?
And again, those opposing the motion have won... 17 votes for, 65 against, with some abstentions. The audience again didn't accept that social media has made us a society of bullies. Meanwhile chair Dr Jim Bolton invites young ppl to continue to discuss on #rcpsychdebate
It just remains for us to thank our chairs Dr Jim Bolton and @DrGilMyers, our great speakers Dr Elizabeth Masterson, @moghraby @Derektracy1 and Dr Mark Salter, and of course our fantastic audiences, and their teachers. Well done everyone! #rcpsychdebate
