Problems with Hate Speech on Social Media

社群媒體仇恨言論的問題


Introduction

Josh Burns is a member of parliament. He spoke to a group of experts about hate speech on the internet.

Josh Burns 是一位國會議員。他與一群專家討論了關於網路仇恨言論的問題。

Main Body

Social media companies do not stop hate speech. Mr. Burns reported 44 bad posts, but the companies only removed three. People also sent mean messages to his partner, Georgie Purcell.

社群媒體公司沒有阻止仇恨言論。Burns 先生舉報了 44 則不良貼文,但公司僅刪除了三則。人們也向他的伴侶 Georgie Purcell 發送惡意訊息。

Some people also attacked Mr. Burns in real life. In June 2024, someone started a fire at his office. They wrote hate messages on the walls. People had to leave their homes because of the fire.

有些人還在現實生活中攻擊 Burns 先生。2024 年 6 月,有人在他的辦公室放火。他們在牆上寫了仇恨訊息。由於這場火災,人們不得不離開自己的家。

Mr. Burns wants new laws. He says the current laws are too weak. He wants laws that protect all minority groups, not just one person.

Burns 先生希望制定新法律。他說目前的法律太弱。他希望法律能保護所有少數群體,而不僅僅是一個人。

Conclusion

Companies are not doing their jobs. The laws do not protect groups of people from hate on the internet.

公司沒有盡到職責。法律無法保護群體免於網路仇恨。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡️ Quick Action Words (Past Tense)

In this story, things already happened. To talk about the past in English, we often just add -ed to the end of the word.

Examples from the text:

  • Report \rightarrow Reported
  • Attack \rightarrow Attacked

Special words (They change completely!):

  • Speak \rightarrow Spoke
  • Write \rightarrow Wrote
  • Send \rightarrow Sent

🧊 The "NOT" Rule (Simple Negatives)

When we want to say something is not happening, we use do not or does not before the action.

  • Plural (Many): Companies \rightarrow do not stop
  • Singular (One): The law \rightarrow does not protect

Vocabulary Learning

parliament (n.)
A group of people who make the laws for a country.
Example:The members of parliament are talking about a new law.
expert (n.)
A person who knows a lot about a specific subject.
Example:She is an expert in computer security.
removed (v.)
To take something away or delete it.
Example:The teacher removed the bad drawing from the wall.
partner (n.)
The person someone is in a romantic relationship with.
Example:He went to the cinema with his partner.
current (adj.)
Happening now; present.
Example:The current weather is very cold.
protect (v.)
To keep someone or something safe from danger.
Example:A helmet helps to protect your head.
minority (n.)
A small group of people who are different from the larger group.
Example:The school wants to protect every minority group.
Practice A2 words in a crossword