Hear why this Twitter user says ABC host David Speers made a "slur" against all social media users

"It would be like if (he) said...'all women are horrible,' or 'all Jewish people are horrible.'"

One of Australian political - or AusPol - Twitter's biggest users has labelled hot mic comments from ABC host David Spears a "slur" against social media users like her.

Belinda Jones, who has repeatedly criticised Speers repeatedly in the past, spoke to 6 News about the comments that appeared to be accidentally shown on a replay of Insiders on ABC iview.

"It’s a horrible, horrible place, and after years of copping it, you just have to tell yourself there are hundreds of thousands watching and a few hundred who tweet, you just gotta remember."

"About 15 people (are trolls), but there are far more who are loving (our show)."

Jones reacted to the comments in an interview on 6 News.

"It would be like if David Speers said...'all women are horrible,' or 'all Jewish people are horrible,' or 'all people from France are horrible.'"

"He has made a slur and it's generalised a large cohort of people, and it's not true, and it's not correct."

"He should retract it & apologise."

When pushed by 6 News Chief Anchor Leonardo Puglisi on whether Speers' comments were really on the same level as anti-semitism, Jones said Speers had "slurred every single social media user."

Accounts that are largely pro-Labor have dominated much of the political discussion on Twitter in the past 12 months.

Most notably is Jeremy Maluta, better known as PRGuy17, who made national headlines earlier this year.

Jones, who said she was a Labor member, hasn't escaped controversy herself.

Only recently, she faced backlash from across the political spectrum for saying "don't f*ck with me dear" in response to a tweet & TikTok video from user LilahRPGtt.

They had responded to a tweet from Jones where she said any business conducting business on the national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II would be "highly disrespectful."

Lilah made points including "casual (workers) still need(ing) to pay their bills."

Jones replied via Twitter with a screenshot of a tattoo Lilah had received in August, saying "if you didn't spend so much on tattoos you could manage your own budget."

That reply & several other tweets have since been deleted.

The impact - or possible lack of impact - Twitter has on elections is a topic that's been debated for years. Some analysis coming from overseas suggests there was little overall impact on the way people voted.

Others have also commented on the swing away from the Coalition at the May federal election, something many believe was attributed to a dislike of Scott Morrison & his actions since 2019, rather than an overall pro-Anthony Albanese & Labor vote.

Despite all this, Jones still enjoys a large following on Twitter & support from fellow users.

She again doubled down on her comments about Speers this morning in a piece in Independent Australia, saying Speers & other ABC journalists "denigrate & slur the entire cohort of social media users who form part of their viewing audience."

Jones says while there may be trolls, her overall experience of using social media is a largely positive one.

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