The frightening potential of the Internet to damage the lives of innocent people became all too apparent last week when officials closed down a Facebook page reporting on the alleged sexual activity of girls at Uniondale High School and other schools in the county. The page came to be known as the “Nassau County Nasty List.”
Sadly by the time that responsible adults became aware of the list it was too late. The barn doors were closed but the horses were already out.
Officials at the high school say they don’t know who created the page. The Nassau County Police are investigating but it is unclear whether the pond scum responsible for this site can be charged with a crime – if they ever get caught.
A Nassau County Police spokesman said that the “cyber bullying” that didn’t exist 10 years ago has become a serious problem. He said the investigation into the “Nasty List” was “unique” because the page was posted anonymously.
In the year 2011 an Internet posting can be viewed by thousands, even millions, of people in less than 24 hours. It’s called “going viral” and it was a wonderful thing when millions of people suddenly discovered the video of singer Susan Boyle when it was posted on YouTube. But it becomes a frightening thing when the Internet is used to damage the reputations of innocent people.
William Lloyd, the Uniondale Schools superintendent, issued a statement in which he said the district does not have jurisdiction over the activities of students outside the school including what they post on social networking sites. However, he said, the offensive posting did include the Uniondale High School logo, which is “a direct violation of copyright laws.”
He added that the school has a “zero tolerance policy regarding bullying and cyber-bullying.”
The people who created this site must be held accountable. If they are high school students they should be expelled or at least suspended. Better yet, they should be used as tackling dummies by the Uniondale football team.
The suicide of a gay Rutgers College student last year demonstrates how very serious and harmful cyber-bullying can be.
Facebook needs and has the resources to be more vigilant. The company cannot allow its website to be used to destroy people’s reputations. No serious newspaper would consider posting this type of alleged information about a person who is not a public figure.
The parents of the young women who were trashed on the “Nasty List” should hold CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s billion-dollar feet to the fire.
Blank Slate Media Editorial
