I guess I’m the person the news warned you about.
Thoughts like, “What is this cruel, scary world we live in?” are likely to creep into our minds after watching the grim six o’clock news. Numerous studies have shown this is a common reaction. An article published in the ‘Journal of Scandinavian Studies in Criminology and Crime Prevention,’ claimed that the media is thought to be a central factor affecting peoples’ perceptions of crime and increasing levels of fear. In some cases the amount of crime presented in the media is highly disproportionate to the actual crime rate. Dr Don Weatherburn, Director of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, discussed ways in which the media in Australia misrepresents crime statistics and police reports in order to make the news sound more sensational than it actually is. The media often exaggerate the seriousness of crimes as well as their frequency, which leads to an increased sense of fear in audiences.
(Some people believe the news wholeheartedly while others feel it’s often exaggerated. What do you think?)
A recent trend in the media has been to feature stories highlighting the dangers of meeting people online. The media represents the act of meeting people online to be extremely risky, with those who participate falling victim to Internet scams. The most famous example was told to the world through the 2010 documentary film, ‘Catfish’. The film followed the plight of a man called Nev, who couldn’t believe his luck when he met a beautiful woman online. Her name was Megan and she was a professional dancer and talented singer.
I don’t want to ruin the ending for anyone, but Megan wasn’t a dancer, Megan wasn’t a singer, and honestly Megan wasn’t even Megan. The gripping narrative in ‘Catfish’ has also been told many times through popular news and current affair t.v. shows.
The news reports have helped me to understand that there is a high chance of personal crippling debt, doing jail time or ending up murdered should you choose to meet people online. However, I am conflicted by these messages. My mother and my best friend both met their partners online, and both seem to have successfully foiled the scammers. Or perhaps the media has been disproportionately reporting on this type of crime? An article published in 2004 in ‘Justice Quaterly: JQ Journal’, highlighted that the media tends to largely neglect crime patterns, gives little attention to causes of crime, to leave the impression that crime is often random and inexplicable.
(Watch the videos below to see how meeting people online is reported in the media)
To determine if meeting people online was as dangerous as the media claimed I decided to try it for myself. When I told the writing team for this website of my plans their initial reaction was, “If we never see you again we’ll know why.” They were, of course, implying that my meet up would end with sinister consequences, but they were also reinforcing the fear people have towards meeting people online because of the menacing way it is portrayed in the media.
After doing my research I decided to join meetup.com. Meetup is the world’s largest network of local groups. On Meetup social butterflies can join groups of like-minded people who are often categorised by demographics such as age, hobbies and marital status.
(8 of the 100+ Meetup groups in Brisbane)
The group I joined was called ‘My Social Life — Brisbane 20s and 30s’. Groups post events, which members can attend in order to ‘meet up’ in real life. I RSVP’d to an event that might plunge me into financial ruin, sentence me to jail, have me violently murdered, or where I might just make a few new friends.
When the day of the meet up arrived I remembered that I am an incredibly nervous person about to enter into a very awkward situation. What was I supposed to do, just walk up to a group full of strangers introduce myself and engage in stimulating conversation? Well, yes that was exactly what I was supposed to do, but I couldn’t do it, not alone (the irony is blinding). Eventually I was able to convince one of my existing friends to come with me but she was as nervous as I was. However, when reflecting on our nerves, I would point out they were more to do with having to make awkward conversation with strangers rather than the possibility of being involved in an internet scam.
We did contemplate driving home, considered watching from afar and entertained the idea of creating elaborate back-stories to mask our true identities. In the end we entered the event as ourselves; a decision I do not regret. Everyone at the event was extremely welcoming and eager to socialise. Not a single person proposed a get-rich-quick scheme, asked me to hold a brown paper package for them or tried to lure me down a dark alleyway, and I actually did make a brand new friend.
My first-hand experience has taught me that you can’t believe everything you see in the media. Yes, crimes can occur when people meet online but they aren’t as common as the media needs to portray. As long as you do your research and exercise common sense, meeting people online isn’t a bad option for busy people. Just stay away from Craigslist…
