The internet has made it so easy to share the most private and intimate aspects of our lives. Though we are often tempted by all of the resources technology has to offer (i.e. Facebook, Twitter – the list can go on…)recent events at both Rutgers and Duke Universities have shown that we need to be mindful of the images and thoughts we share online.
What started off as a joke between former Duke University student Karen Owens and her friends has become a bubbling cauldron of controversy that has left many wondering if enough is being done to protect people, as one click of the mouse has the limitless potential to cause harm. After sharing a mock thesis that rated her sexual encounters with 13 student athletes, Owen’s 42 page explicitly detailed presentation quickly went viral. Though Owen’s “research” wasn’t done with malicous intent, the 13 student’s identities have been revealed to the whole wide web and has been damaging to more than a few reputations.
In some cases, a breach of prviacy can be tragic. Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi committed suicide after his roommate secretly recorded and then broadcast an intimate moment between Clementi and another man. Clementi’s roommate and an accomplice are currently under investigation and charges are expected to be filed.
The web is undoubtedly the fastest way to transmit information in real time. Maintaining the fine balance between accessibility and transparency can be tricky but if done wisely, it can be the difference between being informative and being exploitative.
