Last week, on the 22nd of September, an 18-year-old American university student committed suicide after a hidden webcam taped the student engaging in homosexual acts and was posted on various chat and social networking websites. The student, unknowingly filmed by two of his roommates, consequently jumped off the George Washington Bridge due to the resulting humiliation of the sex tape. Gay rights protesters exclaimed their consideration of the student's death as a "hate crime", with the defendants now facing up to a possible five years in prison for "invasion of privacy". There are ongoing debates about what sentences the defendants should get.
This tragic story highlights the corruptible nature of new media and the potentially detrimental effects of it. There are many other accounts of the potentially harmful effects of new media, such as networkers and bloggers losing their day jobs as a result of posting their dissatisfaction with aspects of these current occupations. There are also several other cases where recently departed couples have posted private, naked photos as well as personal details of their previous partner on the internet for mere revenge.
The case of the university student is an extreme one, however, it does highlight the lack of privacy one faces as a result of new media. Social networking websites, complemented by advanced technology have become undercover agents for public humiliation. The webcam on the student's laptop, streaming live across the web was hidden from his conscious mind as webcams are such a commonly owned item, and with individuals' online and real lives becoming increasingly integrated the opportunity for humiliation is now significantly heightened.
Having read this blog, does it bring to the forefront of your mind that our private lives are now becoming increasingly exposed? Where will our private lives be in ten years time?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
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It's certainly a tragic story. But I wonder what evidence there is to show that new media have caused an increase in the kinds of bullying and humiliation that cause suffering and, in extreme cases, can even lead to suicide. (And what do we actually know about the potential role of social media for providing support and overcoming isolation: how could we know how many potential suicides social media have helped to avert?)
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