Citizen Action within Facebook
September 5, 2019
Pedophiles flock anywhere kids are. Among these places are virtual hangouts, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and more. One thing all criminals can agree on is that they hate pedophiles and in the big house they take justice into their own hands. Outside of prison, Facebook vigilantes take down pedophiles. Quartz reports on how in the article, “There’s A Global Movement Of Facebook Vigilantes Who Hunt Pedophiles.”
The Facebook vigilantes are regular people with families and jobs, who use their spare time to hunt pedophiles grooming children for sexual exploitation. Pedophile hunting became popular in the early 2000s when Chris Hansen hosted the show To Catch a Predator. It is not only popular in the United States, but countries around the world. A big part of the pedophile vigilantism is the public shaming:
“ “Pedophile hunting” or “creep catching” via Facebook is a contemporary version of a phenomenon as old as time: the humiliating act of public punishment. Criminologists even view it as a new expression of the town-square execution. But it’s also clearly a product of its era, a messy amalgam of influences such as reality TV and tabloid culture, all amplified by the internet.”
One might not think there is a problem with embarrassing pedophiles via live stream, but there are unintended consequences. Some of the “victims” commit suicide, vigilantes’ evident might not hold up in court, and they might not have all the facts and context:
“They have little regard for due process or expectations of privacy. The stings, live-streamed to an engaged audience, become a spectacle, a form of entertainment—a twisted consequence of Facebook’s mission to foster online communities.”
Facebook’s community driven algorithms make it easy to follow, support, and join these vigilante groups. The hunters intentions are often cathartic and keen on doling out street justice, but may operate outside the law.
Whitney Grace, September 5, 2019
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