With the click of a button in the late 1970s the world changed. The Internet was created and society has never since been the same.
A phenomenon that started as a helpful research communication and entertainment tool has now turned an ugly course as issues regarding safety and privacy come into question each time an individual signs online. Though it is possible to live an entire lifetime without falling victim to the Internet’s harsher side not everyone is so lucky.
On May 15 a federal grand jury indicted Lori Drew a mother from Missouri for her alleged role in creating a fake profile on MySpace and using it to harass Megan Meier a 13-year-old neighbor. Meier committed suicide in October 2006. As far as Meier was concerned Drew was a boy named Josh Evans who stole her heart via MySpace.
Meier and “Evans” hit it off and exchanged messages for more than a month leading Meier to believe that she was communicating with a boy truly interested in her. However “Evans” suddenly started leaving cruel messages all a part of Drew’s scheme from the beginning including one that said the world would be better off without her.
Unfortunately “Evans” got what he wanted soon after as Meier hanged herself in her home. Meier’s parents are now separated and a family is ruined as a result of a phony Web encounter that manipulated a girl already suffering from depression.
This case is a harsh reminder that not only the parents of pre-teen profile users but also high school and college students need to be more cautious of what the world is able to access via online networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook. Without careful consideration many people post personal e-mail addresses phone numbers class schedules and even addresses on various Web sites of choice. This leaves the helpless ignorant and naive susceptible to manipulation by predators.
Many people seem to forget that what they post online can in most cases be seen by anyone surfing the Web. Though there are privacy settings that can – and should – be activated the span of the Internet is still unknown today. Hackers are out there literally all across the globe so trusting that a simple setting will keep one’s most private information confidential is not as reassuring as one might hope.
One year following Meier’s death the case is still in question. A federal judge recently released his consideration to dismiss it altogether and Drew has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of accessing computers without authorization. The trial is slated for Tuesday.
Regardless of the judge’s decision a very serious matter has been addressed that simply cannot be ignored any longer – the Internet is a dangerous place. Something has to change.
As the federal judge tosses around the idea of dismissing a case that could bring to light the dangers of the online world the Graphic staff would like to give the matter the attention it deserves with hope that in the future our cyber generation will be more wary of social networking sites and conscious of privacy concerns on the Internet.
Before posting personal information realize that it becomes widely accessible and does not disappear. Yes even if one deletes a file cyberspace doesn’t forget – for better or for worse. In addition take advantage of offered privacy settings and do not simply befriend anyone on social networking sites.
What happened to Meier was tragic and the best way to bring her case to justice is to at the least rethink what one leaves accessible to the virtual world. The Internet can be a valuable resource but in the wrong hands it can be a danger to anyone – time has proven this case.