Sir, – I was sorry to see Sarah Moss’s column come to an end, not only because I enjoyed reading it but because of what her decision says about the increasingly toxic nature of public debate.When decent people are driven out of public life because they are subjected to abuse, threats and intimidation from angry strangers online, we all lose. Why would anyone choose to put their head above the parapet when doing so can mean opening themselves up to relentless personal abuse, often from people emboldened by the anonymity of social media?There is a wider cost to this. If thoughtful, reasonable voices decide that contributing to public debate simply isn’t worth the personal toll, we are left with a society increasingly dominated by those most willing to shout, insult and threaten.As long as social media companies are allowed to provide the platforms for this behaviour without being meaningfully held to account, the problem will only get worse.I wish Sarah Moss the very best for the future. Her voice will be missed. – Yours, etc,EVA McDONNELL,Kilmacud,Dublin 14.