Dark Side

Social media is a popular and interactive medium to many people, businesses, activists and political groups, but there is a dark side. The dark side of social media is e-extremism, cyberterrorism and cyberbullying these issues can turn a users ‘virtual world’ upside down and cause irreparable damage.

E-extremism is when extremists use the internet to recruit members, promote their cause, reach a worldwide audience and portray an image for their cause. These extremist sites are generally ‘hate’ groups that attempt to persuade readers to join or support their campaign. A content analysis conducted reported the use of links to other groups, non-english content, multimedia content, economic issues, sell merchandise, include membership forms, claim not to be racist and a small amount use content directed at children.  (Seib & Janbek, 2011)

                                                      (outlookafghanistan.net, 2004)

Two main reasons terrorist groups use the internet is to communicate to each other and their followers and to commit cyberterrorism. Communication is essential for the terrorists to execute their plans and to motivate and increase their supporters. Cyberterrorism is using the internet to harm companies, people and property by damaging a website, inserting a virus and information on another user’s website. Terrorist groups such as Al Qaeda use hacking to attack or destroy websites. (Seib & Janbek, 2011)

                                                      (Cyber Bullying Virus, 2013)

 People who spend a lot of time in the ‘virtual community’ become removed from the emotion of the real world. This allows cyberbullies to be verbally crueller to their victim, as the bully has more confidence behind the so called ‘annoniminity’ of the cyber world. The victim on the other hand cannot escape the bully, unless they cease to partake in the online community in which they felt they belong. Traditionally victims of bullying had the opportunity to escape to their home or another safe haven, but as most people have mobile phones or electronic devices the bullying can be relentless. Cyberbullying is not usually pre-meditated, unlike traditional bullying. (Lohmann, 2012) Cyberbullying is more common than traditional bullying, although surveys taken by teenagers reveal that 95% of cyberbullying is meant as a joke and only 5% is intentional. That does not help the person on the other end of the comment. (Gerstenfeld, Grant & Chiang, 2003)

Rheingold’s utopian theory depicts a ‘virtual community’ which is ordered, safe and allows an escape from the ‘real world’. He does indicate there could well be a ‘dark side’, “We temporarily have access to a tool that could bring conviviality and understanding to our lives and might help revitalise the public sphere. The same tool, improperly controlled and wielded, could become an instrument of tyranny” (Rheingold 1993, p14).

 

Reflection:

I have been lucky enough to escape exposure to the ‘dark side’, except for the occasional Facebook post that shows cruelty. This may be because I am not an ‘Avatar’ in a virtual community, therefore limiting my usage. I think there will be little change in the balance between good and bad users in the future, as we are all human and whether in a ‘virtual’ or ‘real’ world  our fundamental values will not change.

Have you seen the ‘dark side’?

This is my last blog in this series. So until we meet again in Cyberspace, go well and stay happy J

Cheers

Sheridan

References:

Gerstenfeld, P. B., Grant, D. R. & Chiang, C.-P., 2003. Hate Online: A Content Analysis of Extremist Internet Sites. Analyses of Social Issues & Public Policy, 3(1), pp. 29-44.

Jenkins, H., 2006. Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture: Media Education for the 21st Century. [Online]
Available at: http://henryjenkins.org/2006/10/confronting_the_challenges_of.html
[Accessed 8 January 2014].
Lohmann, R. C., 2012. Cyberbullying versus Traditional Bullying. [Online]
Available at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201205/cyberbullying-versus-traditional-bullying-1
[Accessed 5 february 2014].
Rheingold, H., 1998. The reality of virtual communities. Online edition ed. s.l.:Rheingold.
Seib, P. & Janbek, D. M., 2011. Global Terrorism and New Media. Oxon: Routledge.