Section 1 Trend Analysis: Why Internet Shaming Is On The Rise

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Section 1: Trend Analysis: Why internet Shaming is on the rise
Internet shaming is the modern form of public humiliation and harassment where individual use the social media and web-based platforms to expose fellow individuals, enterprises, and scandalous events. In most cases, internet shaming is based on current events, social, political and professional relationships CITATION Kat15 \l 1033 (Schulten). In the old days, shaming was used as a form of social control, but this essay argues that internet shaming has gone out of control leading to the violation of personal privacy, the norms of the community and public humiliation.
Internet shaming has always occurred with improved technologies of social media platforms where a picture, a news event or video is posted online and other people will respond by avoiding, publicly criticizing, or ostracizing the victim. For other people, internet shaming is seen as being the most polite alternative to ensuring public as much as it may hurt or kill the reputation of the victim. One such case is Monica Lewinsky who lost all the personal reputation in worldwide and instantly after her sex scandal with the form US president Clinton CITATION Kat15 \l 1033 (Schulten). The event might have happened almost two decades ago, but the stories are still found all over the internet and young people listen to her name every she is referenced in rap music. This is one example that shows how the culture of internet shaming has gone out of hand. Lewinsky adds that “Gossip websites, Paparazzi, reality programming, some news organizations and hackers get traffic……….it creates a permissive environment for online cyber bullies." CITATION Lia16 \l 1033 (Brinded)
In most cases, the negative impacts that internet shaming brings to the society include depriving of individual dignity and killing one's self-esteem, at some point an individual may be forced to commit suicide. Internet shaming has also been responsible for ending careers of many promising citizens, it kills marriages and employment with just one share of a picture or document. This post is usually socially acceptable by others who comment on it leading to pressure from all sides for the individual. In the past, public shaming was used as a mild form of punishment that would often not be remembered by the public, but with the invention of social media platforms, internet shaming continues to stay forever. The non-acceptable views and events are aired without the consent of the victim. Sadly there is still no government mechanisms to ensure this is not taken out of control. The internet is also a very wide and strange space CITATION Lia16 \l 1033 (Brinded). One post can easily go viral meaning a whole different thing for the victim of internet shaming. The paradox that remains is how this new and always advancing form of technology in connecting the world, enhancing business and improving communication has also made individuals to be more isolated than before. Shaming has always been there since the beginning of civilization, and was often used as a form of soft punishment for offenders of minor crimes CITATION Kat15 \l 1033 (Schulten). But looking at the growth ...