In the age of Facebook statuses and Twitter updates, it was bound to happen. Anonymous weirdos using social media for no other reason than to be mean and vicious. These individuals have gotten tired of attacking others face to face. They now take to the internet where they have an audience of thousands to listen to them. Two of these such stories hit the news cycle this week and while being heartbreaking, they are also disgusting in that they are allowed to continually happen.
One story details the rape threats to a British woman who leads a women's rights website and group. After campaigning for Jane Austen to appear on the 10 pound note, one 21 year old decided to threaten her on Twitter with rape. When this particular woman tried to appeal to those in power at Twitter, they turned off their accounts and ignored her instead of discontinuing the attacker's. Then there's the horrifying story coming out of Russia. Gay men are being lured by fake singles ads online only to be viciously attacked and humiliated by homophobic groups. If that weren't enough, their humiliation is being photographed and video taped and uploaded to the same internet the attackers are using to lure them there.
It's positively terrifying and heartbreaking. I'm absolutely at a loss; how is this allowed to happen? We've been to the moon and back. We've cured terrible diseases and found ways to give back to those in third world countries. But we can't decipher a way to patrol the one network that the entire world is on? Which brings me to my next point.
I read this article earlier this evening and think it's a fairly fantastic idea. Since I doubt Ellen has any ambitions of being the president of the United States, maybe we can talk her into becoming the Sheriff of Social Media. I'm sure she can whip the Wild West into shape. A few jokes there, many well-timed heartfelt speeches there, and the world would be a much happier and more importantly nicer place!
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