January 28, 2020
Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien shut down his Twitter account on Monday night, blaming the “constant negativity and name calling” on the platform.
“I am a champion of free speech, and believe social media, including Twitter, have their place – however I prefer to engage in constructive exchanges of points of view where people are respectful and accountable,” Mr O’Brien told southburnett.com.au
“My decision to leave Twitter has been contemplated over several months, and the recent suicide of Young LNP member Wilson Gavin was a moment of deep consideration.
“The level of aggression, intolerance and hate on Twitter seems to me to exceed other platforms, and it often results in pile-on attacks by anonymous accounts and trolls.
“I am open to criticism and hearing opinions that differ from my own.
“Our democracy depends on strong exchanges of ideas, but when debate is used to insult, abuse and demean others it erodes and weakens our society.
“I fully support the right of people to express their views on Twitter in a way they see fit and within the laws of our land, I just choose not to use that platform.”
