When we go online, our names are usually our real names, and our profile is actually who we are. We are accountable for our actions, and for any posts we send out for all to view. There are many profiles out there that are fake, and these people don't have to worry about the things they say or the people they hurt.
I think you should have to somehow prove who you are, and even if you have a hundred different online names they should all lead right back to the person using them. It is so easy to make a fake online profile, make up a name, look online for any address, decline giving out your phone number, and Viola! You are now someone else.
Once you are a different person and completely anonymous, you are free to terrorize, or stalk, bully, and lie to whomever you like. You can go troll other people and sites at your leisure with no consequences for your actions. If you get blocked because of it, you simply make another fake profile and continue on with your attack.
There should be no more online anonymity, it has been taken for granted, and it has been severely abused and used as a weapon.
Everyone should be responsible for their actions online, as well as offline. Why should our kids be able to be bullied online with no ramifications from a hidden attacker? Why should a pedophile get to pretend to be a young child so they can manipulate an innocent child into doing something that could harm them? Why should you be able to fall in love with a fake profile on a dating site, only to have your heart broken after you have found out it was all a lie?
We have to have a license and registration to drive a vehicle because vehicles are dangerous and can be used as a weapon in the wrong hands. Can you imagine the anarchy we would have with vehicles if no one was accountable for their actions? The internet is becoming a dangerous monster of a device, it can ruin your life, cause others to commit suicide, allow criminals to research dangerous plots, has fake news everywhere and some of it quite dangerous if you are naive enough to try some of the bad advice given.
There needs to age appropriate levels in which you can use the internet, a child can't go into a store and buy an adult magazine, but they can go online and watch the raunchiest pornographic video that would shock any adult.
There needs to be age levels for appropriate use of the internet as well as some way to verify that it is actually you that is using it.
Scott Goerz
