I used to see the Internet through rose-colored glasses. In theory, it’s a perfect communications tool. Unlike television or radio, which both require significant money to buy airtime, the Internet allows practically anyone the opportunity to contribute their ideas freely. Also unlike other media, the Internet allows for immediate feedback on ideas. This, in turn, helps strengthen and improve international discourse. I mean, what could be better than that?

Naturally, after actually spending time on the Internet, my optimistic ideals were crushed faster than it takes to get Rickrolled.

It turns out that, in order to have a productive and socially beneficial Internet, people have to not act like jerks. Unfortunately, this simply cannot be so. If you don’t believe me, just head to any forum or comment thread at CNN or FOXNews.

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But why is this? What is it about the Internet that makes people turn from presumably normal upstanding citizens to rabid, ALL CAPS writing cyber bullies? According to a recent article at CNN, the answer is simple: on the Net, nobody knows your name.

Quoting from the article:

“In the [pre-Internet era], you had to take ownership [of your remarks]. Now there’s a perception of anonymity,” said Lesley Withers, a professor of communication at Central Michigan University. “People think what they say won’t have repercussions, and they don’t think they have to soften their comments.”

Contrast that with a face-to-face conversation, or even a phone conversation, where you can judge people’s moods from facial movements or vocal inflections, observes University of Texas psychology professor Art Markman. 

“It’s hard to be aggressive when you’re face to face,” he said.

Moreover, he points out, aggression often carries a subtext of power.

“A lot of times, real anger is an attempt to get control over a situation where the person doesn’t usually have it,” he said. In that respect, comments to blog posts are attempts to strike back.

The story goes on to discuss how this problem is especially common among teen girls, citing the tragic story of Megan Meier which has been covered at ReputationDefender Blog in the past.

Those power games are innately grasped by children and teens, with schools serving as a perennial social laboratory.

Cheryl Dellasega, a Penn State women’s studies professor, ticks off hypothetical examples that could have come straight from the scripts to “Mean Girls” or “Heathers.”

“Girls who are getting teased come home and let their [aggressors] have it by putting something on their blog and starting a rumor campaign,” she said. And instead of rumors simply making the rounds among peer groups — which can be bad enough — “they go out to a much bigger group, a worldwide group. The impact is devastating, and it’s as easy as clicking a button.”

“Kids don’t realize that one post can destroy somebody’s life forever,” she added.

While we should remain hopeful that fair and responsible Internet use will become the norm, it is important to be realistic and take proactive measures to protect our identities online. This is why ReputationDefender offers its customers Life Insurance for the Internet™ through its variety of industry leading products.

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