The government has said it is “step[ping] up the fight against anonymous trolls” by adding new measures to the draft Online Safety Bill.

The measures are designed to give social media users more control over what they see online and who can interact with them.

Under the new rules, social media platforms will be forced to give users the power to block anonymous trolls and offer tools to give people more control over what posts they see on social media.

“The government recognises too many people currently experience online abuse and there are concerns that anonymity is fuelling this, with offenders having little to no fear of recrimination from either the platforms or law enforcement,” it said in a press release.

Currently most social networks used in the UK do not require users to share personal details about themselves.

The government said that removing the ability for anonymous trolls to target people on the biggest social media platforms will help "tackle the issue at its root and complement the existing duties in the Online Safety Bill and the powers the police have to tackle criminal anonymous abuse".

“Tech firms have a responsibility to stop anonymous trolls polluting their platforms,” said digital secretary, Nadine Dorries. “We have listened to calls for us to strengthen our new online safety laws and are announcing new measures to put greater power in the hands of social media users themselves.

“People will now have more control over who can contact them and be able to stop the tidal wave of hate served up to them by rogue algorithms.”

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