PARENTS AREN’T HAPPY

Thousands of parents across the country are calling for Twitter to take additional steps to combat online trolls, citing concerns that individuals are using the platform to organize major disruptions of online classes taking place on the video conferencing service Zoom.

In a letter to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey spearheaded by the group ParentsTogether, nearly 9,000 parents pointed to the recent spread of disruptions known as “Zoombombings,” which have interrupted or hijacked a number of online classes taking place on Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As parents and Twitter users, we are deeply concerned that Twitter is now the epicenter of online trolls organizing racist, violent, and sexual attacks known as ‘Zoombombing,’” the parents wrote. “With so much of children’s education now moved online, we are asking you to stop putting our kids at risk and take immediate action to shut down the planning and spreading of this vile abuse.”

The parents asked that Twitter ban accounts that are meant to encourage these malicious interruptions, along with banning hashtags that enable disruptors to find passcodes for meetings, and implementing a “zero-tolerance policy” towards organizing these types of attacks on Twitter.

“We ask that you turn the immense power of Twitter from endangering children, to protecting them,” the parents wrote.

A spokesperson for Twitter did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the letter.

The parents are not the first to bring up concerns around interruptions to classes.