3 posts tagged “stalking”
Lawmakers take aim at social-networking sites
A proposed federal law, Deleting Online Predators Act, or DOPA, would soon make many social networking sites such as Myspace, Blogger, and others from being accessible on library and public school computers for minors. This is not the most disturbing part, as there are other programs that would be blocked under this legislation including AOL and Yahoo Instant Messenger.
As always, the idea behind this proposal is that it would protect children from online predators. Ah, yes because online predators unlike those in real life can reach out and grab your children and kidnap them. OH WAIT, the child has to provide personal information and in most cases establish contact with the predator? Hm.
In the talk I saw from danah boyd last Thursday, she discussed how online predators aren't nearly as mysterious and rampant as we might think. Most of the time, the girls that get into trouble with these creepos are fully aware before they meet their "online friend" of their age difference (and through this revelation would be able to ask themselves - "Why would a 40 year old want to hang out with a 15 year old?") and choose to meet them anyhow.
Libraries, schools, and *gasp* parents could provide information about how to protect oneself from predators--both online and otherwise. Instead of blocking these websites and messaging services that are principally used for communication among already established friends (because parents won't let them go out because their baby needs to have 500 extra curriculars to get into ___ University...ok that's really beside the point but whatever.)
Blocking this social outlet for young people is not only destructive and extremely unneccessary. Being under 18 does not make one socially incompetent. Minors haven't forgotten the "dont' talk to strangers" policy and if one worries they have, all they need is a simple reminder.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2422125 - Como What?!
I know I already did my generic facebook complaining post but seriously, why would they do that?! (By that, if you are too lazy to read the article they're going to open up facebook to people not in college or high school who receive invitations from current users)
Facebook's whole appeal is its exclusivity.
- Before (When only college students were on facebook): "Yay! I'm going to ___ College! OOh I'm gonna get a facebook now!"
- Later (When they introduced high school facebook): "Yay! I'm out of middle school! I'm so awesome that I'm getting a facebook and a myspace!"
- Now (Or atleast after they introduce this change): "Wow, this is so convenient! This site was made for stalkers like me! I get first names, last names, all online activity--vital tools necessary to keep up with my creepy lifestyle all in a convenient place!"
Ok maybe that's not always true but anyone with friends who are not in high school or college and are interested in being in a social networking site are already on myspace anyways.
It will be very interesting to see what the effects of all this are since Facebook profiles often contain a lot more personal information than on other sites (i.e. - residence hall, cell phone number, class schedule, etc.).
Either way, I probably won't be creeped out enough to change until I get a message that says "Hot pics" or an equally disturbing message from someone who I really don't even know or could possibly know. Not sure what a message would say that would creep college boys out...but I'm sure I'll hear about an instance of one after this debuts and it will be hilarious.
Let's compare and contrast the complaints shall we?
- http://www.petitiononline.com/faceb00k/petition.html -Facebook.com Users Against the "News Feed" and the "Mini Feed" Petition
Let's be honest, everyone's still talking about the facebook "Mini Feed" and "News Feed." It's getting almost as old as people saying they're "bringing sexy back."
(PS- you're not.)
I guess all this can make one sympathize with the celebrities who complain about the poparazzi. Add some pictures, expensive clothes, anorexia, and (maybe) talent and you've got the people.com home page.
If there's gonna be a news feed, I demand details and pictures of the parties at hand looking angry without makeup carrying a coffee and commentary on why that couple that I see everywhere suddenly broke up. If you're gonna provide stalker tools you gotta go all the way. Perhaps message boards where people can discuss the news feeds? or even better, how about we receive an Oscar (or more realistically a Teen Choice award) and millions of dollars from the deal?
