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'They're calling me the N-word'

A writer details some of the abuse she receives on Twitter and whether the platform is doing enough to stop it.

Twitter shares are surging after the social media site reported better-than-expected earnings and user growth. But there is a dark side to its popularity - the platform has also seen an increase in online abuse and hate speech.

Amnesty International conducted research about women’s experiences on social media platforms. This includes the scale, nature and impact of violence and abuse directed towards women on Twitter, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom and USA.

The human rights group found that black women were disproportionately targeted, being 84% more likely than white women to be mentioned in abusive or problematic tweets.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has pledged to take 'a more proactive approach to reducing abuse and its effects' on the social media platform. But will it be enough?

Danielle Dash, a black UK-based writer who explores themes of race, gender and popular culture, told the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's Susannah Streeter about some of the abuse she receives on Twitter.

(Image: Hate speech key on computer keyboard representing online defamatory comments. Credit: Getty Images)

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3 minutes