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Staffordshire Police are launching a campaign to help people use social media safely in the wake of widespread disinformation, misinformation and violent content online.

Officers, staff and specialist teams across the UK are working hard to identify people who are fascinated by violence following the tragic events in Southport last year where three young girls were killed.

We are increasingly living our lives online and the internet helps us to stay in touch with friends, shop, play games and keep up to date with the latest news – but it can also be a place to read false information and view content that can fuel acts of extreme violence and terror.

That’s why we’re launching our campaign to help give people the right tools to stay safe online, challenge disinformation and spot the signs that someone might be fascinated with violence.

On social media, everyone has a voice. It can be a good thing for generating discussion, seeing different viewpoints and having a diverse outlook on certain topics, but it can also be a place filled with false information designed to make people think or feel a certain way. This information, particularly paired with uncensored content depicting extreme violence, has the potential to influence people’s way of thinking and their motives exponentially – which poses big risks to everyone.

Earlier this month the police secured a prison term against a man in Staffordshire who was found printing 3D guns and ammunition in his home. The court heard how he had spent lots of time alone on social media and had become fascinated by the Nazis and Adolf Hitler.

Police are determined to raise awareness on the issue and ensure they can do everything possible to equip people with the tools needed to spot this type of disinformation or misinformation online, and to help everyone spot if someone could be influenced by harmful content.

Keep yourself, your family and your friends safe online by taking a look at tips to spot misinformation and how to protect children from seeing harmful content: Let’s guide, not guard our online spaces | Staffordshire Police