User Beware: Facebook Blackmail

Yeah, I know, the title sounds like one of those crazy investigative jourmalism exposés or maybe a Lifetime movie, but this is real and it needs to be discussed. We all love Facebook for the most part. It’s a fun and easy way to connect or reconnect with folks in your circle as well as make a few new connections. The social networking site has firmly rooted itself to the base of our limbic system, pumping out judicious amounts of Farmville and Mafia Wars-laced dopamine into our addicted psyches. And who can beat oohin, ahhing, and straight lol-ing from the random status updates, photos, links, and miscellaneous content our friends post?

Yeah we all love Facebook, but we as responsible users need to watch our steps. By now you’ve already heard about the 19-yr-old that was recently sentenced to 15 years in prison for nefarious behavior on our beloved Facebook. The teen masqueraded as a girl and reached out to male students at his school cajoling them into sending naked photos of themselves. Once he procured the naughty pics, he revealed himself and then forced his victims into sex, using the photos as leverage. He did this to 30 male students. Blink…cueing the cricket chorus.

Another blackmail incident that’s making news is the case of a once happy couple. Once the relationship went south, The New York Post reports, the once sweet boyfriend took possession of his ex’s page and started making upgrades…namely changing her sexual preference information and then demanding payment for the return of the hijacked page. He was ultimately arrested, but the damage was done.

“My family convinced me to go to police,” said Jessica Zamora-Anderson, a native of Guatemala. “Half the people in my country have heard about this. It’s destroyed my life.”

And as you read these two stories, some of you might be a little shocked while some might get a little chuckle at someone else’s expense. The point is, a lot of us aren’t too far off from being in this unenviable situation. There’s a reason you don’t send naughty photos to people even those folks that supposedly love you. There’s also a reason you shouldn’t be sharing your passwords with anyone. Just because folks are supposed to have your best interest in mind doesn’t mean that they always do. Ever heard of the phrase “fair-weather friend”?

I’m not a pessimist, or least I try not to be. I prefer to think of my self as a realist with a healthy dose of optimism. A lot of us are too lackadaisical with our online personalities and in this day and age, they are as important as your offline persona. Think about that the next time you even think about do something in the heat of the moment. It’s those few seconds that can define the rest of a person’s life.

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
See all posts by Sherri L. Smith.