The internet may be one of man’s greatest yet most deadly inventions. Having access to infinite information at your fingertips is truly astounding. We can look up anything as complex as information to help solve a scientific equation and as simple as how to tie your shoes. One of the most popular things people do with the internet is create profile pages to connect with others by posting or leaving others messages through Facebook or dating sites like OkCupid. It’s a great feeling when you post your best pictures and receive positive feedback, post enough information to share your interests with others or post fun comments on one another’s wall. This all may seem great, but it has lead to many horror stories, many resulting in deaths.
When it comes to having easy access to infinite information, stalking also becomes a major downfall of the internet. People are able to search your address, look through all of your pictures to dig deep into your past, pinpoint your exact location or even keep up on your daily life by checking all your posts on social media. Many online stalking stories have lead to tragic endings for some, while others were able to escape threatening and unwanted behavior. Online stalking can be as innocent as hyper-intimacy (which is inappropriate or ‘creepy’ forms of courtship) or as intense as harassment and intimidation through the web or online.
Though the internet may seem like one of man’s greatest creations, activities such as stalking and cyberbullying make it a dangerous playground for most. We put our trust in people when we first meet them since it is the fair thing to do. Once they break that trust with false identity, it shakes us up and changes our views of the world. The government is trying to get involved with protecting people from such extreme harassment and bullying. The Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act was inspired by Megan Meier to enforce anti-bullying and punish those that “send any communication with intent to cause ‘substantial emotional distress.” Unfortunately even though this act was proposed in 2009, it has yet to be passed. People must be very wary of what they post and who they trust on the web to steer clear of the dangerous dark corners of the internet -- a trap that is very easy to fall into.
Cyberbullying is one of the generation’s biggest concerns as more kids are gaining access to the internet and social media sites. Adolescents already have a rough time dealing with bullying face to face, but now they must deal with the teasing online. Sending hateful messages takes seconds to submit through the web, so people can spam an individual with distasteful messages and links rapidly. One case that shook the nation happened in 2006 to Megan Meier. Meier received a hateful message from a mysterious boy who showed interest at first, but quickly turned against her. She committed suicide after receiving the message, “Everybody in O’Fallon knows how you are. You are a bad person and everybody hates you. Have a shitty rest of your life. The world would be a better place without you.” It was soon discovered that this account was actually Meier’s former friends’ mom. This case shows how easy it is to create a fake account and send hateful messages to someone after building trust.
When it comes to having easy access to infinite information, stalking also becomes a major downfall of the internet. People are able to search your address, look through all of your pictures to dig deep into your past, pinpoint your exact location or even keep up on your daily life by checking all your posts on social media. Many online stalking stories have lead to tragic endings for some, while others were able to escape threatening and unwanted behavior. Online stalking can be as innocent as hyper-intimacy (which is inappropriate or ‘creepy’ forms of courtship) or as intense as harassment and intimidation through the web or online.
Though the internet may seem like one of man’s greatest creations, activities such as stalking and cyberbullying make it a dangerous playground for most. We put our trust in people when we first meet them since it is the fair thing to do. Once they break that trust with false identity, it shakes us up and changes our views of the world. The government is trying to get involved with protecting people from such extreme harassment and bullying. The Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act was inspired by Megan Meier to enforce anti-bullying and punish those that “send any communication with intent to cause ‘substantial emotional distress.” Unfortunately even though this act was proposed in 2009, it has yet to be passed. People must be very wary of what they post and who they trust on the web to steer clear of the dangerous dark corners of the internet -- a trap that is very easy to fall into.
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