JuicyCampus...Very DISTURBING website...
Internet Safety Advisor
6 Comments
JuicyCampus, is a college website that has been in the news recently. The website allows students to post whatever they want, totally anonymously. Sounds ok, right?
Warning:
As of this writing, just a few the postings on the JuicyCampus main page:
- "D*** H**** You are a mother f**** sl** ass fat hoe bag piece of sh**"
- "Rich P***** is a fag"
- "Philip V**** this guy is a f***** homo".
- "Liz S**** Easy to get into this asian slu** pants, hard part is getting her out, a couple of beers and this head case is easy for the picken"
- "Hottest Ass on Campus"...........
(Full names and obscenities were removed for this website).
Once a message is posted, people are able to "vote" on comments. Once published, postings can not be edited or deleted.
The website states:
Users agree they will not post anything that is:
- "unlawful, threatening, abusive, tortious, defamatory, obscene, libelous, or invasive of another's privacy"
- "you can’t post lies about people or groups – that’s called defamation and it’s illegal, and you can’t post copyrighted materials or intellectual property that isn’t yours".
The website encourages anonymity.
"There is no way for someone using the site to find out who you are. And we at JuicyCampus are not keeping track of who you are or what you post. In fact, we prefer not to know who you are"
As their slogan states, "Always Anonymous. Always Juicy"...
Sometime ago we had a discussion regarding the websites, RateMyTeachers and RateMyProfessors. While these types of websites can provide an outlet for students and provide a venue for freedom of expression, anonymous students were able to post cruel, malicious, hateful and inflamatory remarks on named teachers with no way for educators to respond or know who posted the information. (RateMyTeachers has since included an area for teachers to respond).
There is a disclaimer on JuicyCampus for those children under 18, "some content may be considered inappropriate and harmful to minors". Nonetheless, words hurt, no matter how young or old one is.
It deeply saddens me to see websites like this. As an advocate for children's safety and someone who works closely with over 500 children per week, freedom of expression is important. But when people are encouraged to post anonymous messages that are cruel and hateful about a named person, they have no idea, or perhaps they do, as to the damage and harm that can be done to another human being.
Reader Comments (6)
I just don’t understand. Whatever happened to “if you don’t have something nice to say don’t say anything at all”? I don’t consider myself old fashion in the least and I am an advocate for free speech, but the line must be drawn somewhere. Sites like this are only going to keep pressing the limits until someone else pushes back – hard. I hate to see legislation and laws for issues that should easily be taken care of by having a good moral character. Image how productive we could be and what an impact we could have in this world if we just focused all of this negative energy on doing something good. The Internet makes such an impact in people’s lives – I would just rather see it being a positive one rather than a negative one.
Well said, Heather! Excellent response!
Thanks!
I agree with Heather -- if you don't have something nice to say.... It seems that those bold and young are taking the right to free speach in a complete wrong direction. To me it is a right that is given to us as a special gift, not as a stake we claim. I would really be interested to know what our presidential candidates would say or do to address issues of online bullying and as more and more issues come to light and as more and more cases come in to media attention and into the court system...what would their stance be on taking action. Just because we seem to think as a public that technologicially or virtually bashing someone is so new and that it is only words on a screen, we have seen what that can do to a person (the young girl in Missouri). How do our presidential hopefuls stand...have they even really said? Is it an issue they feel they even need to state a stance on during their campaigns? Sites like this and actions like those horrible students are taking in slandering others disgusts me. I can only hope and pray that things like this will never happen to my own children...or to yours. It really sickens me. Jace -- I wish for you all the strength and determination to continue with your cause!!!!!! You are doing a wonderful thing with this site and getting the word out. I applaud you!!!!!! (p.s. miss you too my dear friend!)
Stella! Such wonderfully insightful words! Of course, we expect no less from such a wonderful person and brilliant educator!
We miss you, Susie! Come backkkk!!!!
Hugs!
ABC News is doing a big story on this Friday's 20/20 about JuicyCampus...a really powerful article on the story is linked here:
http://www.abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4849927&page=1
Awesome! Thank you newslover42! I will pass the info along!