A New Perspective Through the Web

One of the greatest highlights of the internet is the fact that users can develope multiple perspectives and ideas that they might not encounter in the real world. The web offers people the opportunity to become invisible. The internet allows it users to portray any type of image that people want to convey to others. The ability to hide behind the keyboard has given many net users a confidence that lack in the real world. Those that might be introverted, shy and quiet in the real world, find it easier to show their true emotions or characteristics online.

According to Wired Magazine one of the greatest dangers of the internet is the "echo chamber effect". This effect explains the how people spend top much of their time seeking information that they already know. This only reinforces the things that they already believe are true. For Example: hackers associate with other hackers online, anorexics search blog sites for tips, and victims of bullying seem to actively associate themselves with social networking sites.

Online representation is very misleading when dealing with the internet. Above is a video of football superstar Manti Te'o who was a victim of false identity through the internet. He had an online relationship and fell in love with a woman via the web that lasted for many years. As the relationship progressed Te'o fell very much in love with the woman, and at the height of their relationship the woman died suddenly before he was given the opportunity to meet her. After these events past Te'o learns that the woman he fell in love with was not real and in fact it was a man who created a fake identity. He used another woman's picture and pretended to be the woman that Manti Te'o fell in love with. Manti Te'o's story has become popular in the news and has reached many people who frequent the internet. His story makes users think twice before trusting someone online.

The misconception of the web is important in understanding the false consciousness that people have when using the internet. There are many perspectives that users can have and can also experience while using the internet. A 50 year old widower can now become a 25 year old single woman at the drop of the hat. These issue extend to a much broader topic that flows into a negative aspect of online perspective. Different online perspectives can have a negative effect on people, especially on dating sites. On dating sites such as match.com, e-harmony.com, and plentyoffish.com have millions of viewers. There are several stories where woman are beaten and killed by men who portray themselves as the "good guy" on the these dating sites

Perspective on the web can range from bad to good. Different people will always have the opportunity to view different perspectives of others on the internet. Its just up to that people to be careful and make wise decisions when getting to know others behind the screen