Inside Higher Ed: Gossip and Slander at a Campus Near You
In the annals of online discourse, “did you hear about [student]’s nose job?” isn’t among the best of what the Internet has to offer. It also isn’t the worst. An anonymous Web site that’s caught the attention — and provoked the ire — of students across the country has already unleashed comments like that one, and much worse, in carefree, unregulated and sometimes vicious discussion threads that have raised privacy concerns and condemnations on several campuses.
On JuicyCampus.com, anyone can post to campus-specific boards with the guarantee that their identities will be protected and their messages left uncensored. At some colleges, the site has caught on — particularly among campus Greeks. The result is often a barrage of shout-outs, accusations, open threads (“Hottest Frat Boy!?!!”) and often, personal attacks, assertions about women’s sexual history and even death threats. In the site’s FAQ, the creators note: “Facts can be untrue. Opinions can be stupid, or ignorant, or mean-spirited, but they can’t be untrue. And we believe everyone is entitled to their opinion.”
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