Are social networking websites suddenly becoming anti social?
A sudden string of murders with social networking websites as the common thread running
through them gives one the feeling of a cuddly baby suddenly becoming a cold blooded murderer. Social networking websites had come to be regarded as the ultimate fun places spreading love, friendship and camaraderie among its members; where else could one befriend or revive old relationships as on a social networking site. No wonder it became the 'in' thing to be a part of one group or the other and break out in gay abandon telling all about oneself including private info into these sites. What was apparently lost in the new found euphoria was the simple fact that these were mere information platforms and accessible not only to angels but also to perverts and predators.The risk of revealing personal info on the internet first became evident when scamsters would use the personal account number of unsuspecting victims in what is called as a 'phishing'operation and drain off their bank accounts.. Mercifully such security breaches stopped with monetary frauds and did not cause physical harm or loss to life.
The death of Ashley Hall illustrates the typical trust or the sense of belonging that unsuspecting members have to their groups which made her lower her guard and walk directly into the jaws of death. In other cases involving social networking sites Wayne Forrester and Brian Lewis kill their wives on the basis of what they learn about them in these sites.
While one cannot deny the role of the social networking sites totally in these gruesome killings, it would be unfair to paste the blame squarely on them. It is simple common sense that the info that one posts in these sites are just a click away to anybody wishing to have them and there could be perverts and predators out there waiting to exploit the situation and one needs to be wary of posting info or making personal contacts with strangers whom they know only through these portals.
Are social networking websites suddenly becoming anti social?