Problems, problems...

Find it very difficult to understand how it (apparently) was ever the case that abusive behaviour online was treated differently from abusive behaviour in the "real world". And yet, it seems it was so, because prosecutors have now been told to treat them the same - the implication being that they haven't been up until now  I've spoken before about what I see as the potential evils of social media, where you can spew out poison and vitriol whilst remaining anonymous.  Quite what you do about it, I'm not sure.  The logical thing is to require anybody using Facebook or Twitter or such to prove and have put on record their real identity so that they can be traced and brought to account if necessary. But clearly that would negate the whole ethos of social media, which for most users is simply the online equivalent of a chat with strangers down the pub. And how do you tell if people are telling the truth?  Any ideas?