The Internet is an astounding platform for communicating with people from across the world through things like social medias, chat rooms, and the like. But the Internet is also its own wild west in that it is largely unpoliced or regulated, and moreover the reality of anonymity exists in its greatest form. The ability to be anonymous evolved into what is known as Cat fishing, a term coined by a 2010 documentary in which a group of three friends record the online interactions between one of them and a Facebook family only to eventually find out that the 15 accounts they communicated with were all run by Angela Wesselman, a 40 year old housewife from Michigan. Angela's actions are hard to pin as right or wrong because online ethics aren't as applicable as real-world ethics, but her main transgressions lie within the relationships she built, and identities she stole
In the film the main character, Niv, develops a romantic relationship with Angela's supposed daughter, Megan. They talked on the phone, Facebook chatted, and even intimately texted over the course of nine months. Angela was transgressing against two people by doing this, Niv, and most importantly her husband. Niv communicated with this girl, and fell in love only to be heartbroken because she never existed, and his trust had been betrayed. It is hard to pour your feelings into something just to find out it was in vain because someone derived pleasure form it. Angela's husband was wronged because she participated in emotional cheating which is when one willingly invests their time into another person with the aim of a romantic connect. Its not as bad as physical cheating, but it still stings, even if her husband doesn't understand what she's doing. She was betraying her husband by being unfaithful mentally.
Angela used the photos of complete strangers on the accounts she used to trick Niv. Not only did she betray someone that was investing themselves into her lies, she also stole the identity of the 15 different people whose pictures she used. This is anonymity's most powerful manifestation and the reason the Internet is so dangerous. In the real world you can't really lie about the way you look but in the digital world you have a multitude of editing tools and the ability to take the appearance of someone else. Angela exploited the lack of regulation on the Internet to mirror these people, but keeping her own personality and desire. It may not have caused any damage because Angela was caught but there was the possibility that Angela's online activity could have damaged the reputation of the real girl in the photos, Aimee Gonzales, and that would have been irreversible.
In conclusion, it's always good to remember that the Internet is a dangerous place, what you do, who you are, and the people you interact with have the possibility to affect you in any facet of your life. Some people abuse the power and freedom of the Internet, so it's always good to be vigilant and mindful that unless you have irrefutable proof, the 16-year-old girl your talking to could actually be a 40-year-old man or woman.
You know you love me, XOXO, Gossip Girl.
5 comments:
The internet is a very powerful tool it could be used as a good thing or as a bad thing. In this case Angela used it as bad thing to escape her reality but ended abusing the power of the internet by Cat Fishing Nev.
I actually disagree with some points you made. I don't believe Angela cheated. For Angela, being Megan was being a different person. I don't think Angela herself was in love with Nev. I believe that Megan actually evolved into a different person mentally than Angela. It's similar to losing yourself in a role. Also, using someone else's photo isn't identity theft. Its like you said, the internet is widely unpoliced and unregulated. Until such regulations appear, anything put on the internet is fair game. However, I do agree with your closing statement. Its always good to be wary on the web.
I feel like Carl Johnson will never see this, but yes, using someone's photo as your own is identity theft. Imagine if Angela, as Megan started some sort of hate campaign against a race or an ideology and the picture or face became associated with those negative feelings (sort of like a symbol or icon), then Aimee Gonzales (the actual girl in the photo) could become blacklisted in a sense and her image being associated with hate could put roadblocks in her life. Another way to look at it is if Angela had been committing fraud and they didnt have Megan's name, but only her picture. Victims could reverse google image search and probably find the real Aimee Gonzales and put some sort law suit against her. Using someone elses image could potentially scapegoat that person and to pretend to be them in any sense is identity theft. Granted it does not feel like identity theft, but they are essentially the same. When someone steals my ID they pretend to be me to buy things or steal my money. Angela pretended to be Aimee with a slightly different name for a personal gain. It would be no differemt if someone found my debit card, used it, and said they were Joel, or some sort of relative. Good day sir.
And to add more Mr. Carl Johnson, anything put on the Internet is NOT fair game. This is why we have copyright laws and DMCA regulations. My notion that the Internet is like a wild west is not because everything is up for grabs, but rather because it's dangerous and theres not much law enforcement. From what you said, if I put my credit information into an online database by a bank it would be fair game and excusable if a hacker stole it. NO! Now perhaps you meant only public things on social media, but still, if I post music I made or something I invented and someone recreated it that would be stealing. Now finally, good day.
And to add more Mr. Carl Johnson, anything put on the Internet is NOT fair game. This is why we have copyright laws and DMCA regulations. My notion that the Internet is like a wild west is not because everything is up for grabs, but rather because it's dangerous and theres not much law enforcement. From what you said, if I put my credit information into an online database by a bank it would be fair game and excusable if a hacker stole it. NO! Now perhaps you meant only public things on social media, but still, if I post music I made or something I invented and someone recreated it that would be stealing. Now finally, good day.
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