I recently discovered an online social networking site called Dailybooth, a photoblogging site which allows users to post pictures of themselves daily and to 'follow' their friends. A huge problem on this site is the emergence of 'Fakes', people pretending to be someone they're not.
'Fakes' have been highlighted through the emergence of Social Networking sites. I mean Britney Spears doesn't really have 20 twitter accounts!
Some social networking sites have tried to filter out these 'fakes'. The most effective way I think is on twitter by having verified accounts. This is where twitter posts a little blue tick at the top of the verified celebrities page saying 'verified account'. This makes it easier for the followers to sort out the actual celebrities from the fakes.
Generally when we hear about 'Fakes', its because someone is imitating an artist or famous person online. However, on Dailybooth the fakes run deeper than just celebrities. Networkers are stealing the identity of other everyday citizens. Stealing pictures, names, friends and followers from innocent and often unaware users of the site.
This goes back to the discussion we had in class about privacy. Generally identities are stolen from those who have the most information about themselves online. Celebrities are always in the media and a lot of their personal information is floating around the web making it easy to copy and re post.
Does this movement towards 'faking' ordinary people reflect our views on privacy?
Are we are posting too much personal information about ourselves online?
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