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Is closing askfm the answer?
**helen**
Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
There's no question that this is a sad and disturbing story of suicide -
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/06/hannah-smith-online-bullying
I just wondered whether or not closing down a website is the answer? Mostly what I've heard about askfm comes from you guys in live chats, so as the insiders, do you agree or disagree?
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/06/hannah-smith-online-bullying
I just wondered whether or not closing down a website is the answer? Mostly what I've heard about askfm comes from you guys in live chats, so as the insiders, do you agree or disagree?
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Comments
I do think more monitoring is needed if people must use them. But quite frankly I think some common sense is needed when using them too, it works both ways.
Everything can be abused, I don't think that's grounds to ban something. What needs to be done instead is whoever abused it to be found and stopped.
Well it's different in that the main purpose of ask.fm is to be an anonymous cunt to people...
Well obv, it wouldn't make a very good advertising slogan really. But it's an 'anonymous Q & A website' so it's mainly used by cowardly teenagers being nasty to each other..
However, one thing I always find very strange in these cases is how the victim keeps going back on the website. There's some strange psychology going on there. A long time ago, I went out with a girl who was 17, and she was getting abusive text messages. And yet despite this, absolutely every time, she insisted on replying to them, despite me telling her to ignore them, and her knowing that that was the best way to stop them happening. Text messages and phone calls are a bit different, because they're more difficult to ignore, but surely with a website, you have to be actively going on it to see these messages. I mean do people already feel this way about themselves and then basically seek out confirmation?
I think you just hit the nail on the head. And there's lots of people who'd offer that confirmation for no other reason than that they think it's fun(ny).
I'm terribly sorry for this man's loss, I truly am, but banning things is not the answer. It never has been and never will be.
Do any parents actually 'monitor use' or is it just something that people bang on about when something bad and internet related happens to a teenager?? I never knew anyone who's parents actually looked at what they were doing..
Not sure. My parents have seen some of the websites I go on though.
I agree with Melian really, kids need to be monitored on the internet, and adults need to be educated that some forums that are unmoderated are going to get them grief, instead of crying about it and posting it in the Guardian everytime as if 'anonymous internet trolls said horrible things' is news.
My computer was in the living room, not my bedroom. They didn't "monitor" me exactly, but of course they could see what I was up to.
Yeah so was mine. But teenagers have laptops and smartphones now so the only way to monitor someone is to look through their phone or computer which demonstrates a lack of trust rather than a desire to help with problems, I'd say.
Restricting use of both of those is still within the realms of parental influence. Laptops not allowed in bedrooms for example.
Using my wild west analogy (I like it ) though, how would you parent your kids in a semi lawless semi anarchistic place? I think more places like thesite where a) the information is actually researched and factual b) UGC / discussions are moderated to maintain a 'high bar' for content would actually provide safer places for children online.
Thought a go to Hannah and her family though *hug*
Cases like this are extreme and I suspect its not just a case of cyber bullying...