With the recent advancement in technology these past few centuries, everyone in the world can access information and networking with anyone they desire. The benefits, especially psychological are huge. This gives us the ability to obtain external validity while adding to cultural psychology and understanding the nuances between people of the world, forming friendships, and obtaining priceless amounts of information.
However, with any benefit comes at least a handful of disadvantages. For one, more and more kidnappings are taking place worldwide than ever before. By the time women go to college (usually around 18 years old)in the United States, 1/3 of them will have already been raped at some point in their lives. After college? 75%. The world-wide human trafficking (sex) trade has increased substantially, as has recreational drug use and violence in general. Attention span has decreased within the general population and corruption has increased. The quality of mankind is at a low I have never seen in my lifetime.
I bring this issue to light because it's important for both women and men to realize the importance their actions are having on themselves, others, and future generations. Its no surprise that men and women think differently in social occasions, and thus would think differently in regards to social networks. The problem arises when men manipulate these differences. I am no exception.
As a child of the 90's and an adolescent in the kickoff decade for the 21st century, I've seen and been involved with numerous social networks in all forms and settings. Anyone who has realizes that much talk often becomes flirtatious and sometimes even sexual. Women see this as innocent fun normally, simply because in theory, it is; anonymous flirting cant possibly hurt anyone...at least physically. However, this was back in the early 90's when chat rooms were the main source of internet networking.
In 2011, however, there is an influx of networking sites making it available to meet people in person. Considering the war torn nature of the past few generations (I would argue anyone 70 years+), most Americans have been raised by their mothers or had their fathers leave or die in war. Thus, these men, raised by women, are more understanding to the differences within the sexes. Through time and technology, social interactions have actually decreased. All humans have a sexual drive that has been increased by the advent of pornography (one of largest businesses in America). Thus, with an increase in understanding, a decrease in time interacting with real people, and an increased sexual drive, men must make the best of the little personal time they are given. Naturally, this would involve more rapes, long-period contact including harassment, and obsession. The statistics help prove this untestable hypothesis (ethics violations). There are also a variety of scholarly articles involving the study of this depressing trend in human nature.
Its important to note that the difference in interaction is simple. Women speak in code and diplomacy, or at least one or the other. Men are straightforward, and if you aren't straightforward with them, they assume a position of power. Why have so many men been acquitted on rape charges? Because many raped women who have been taped don't speak up, thus men take advantage. If a woman struggles, fights, and claws her way out of a rape but never yells "stop", he will continue, knowing he can't be incriminated.
The same applies for social settings in general. If a man approaches a woman to dance and she says "no" for whatever reason and refuses to continue talking after he refutes (because he will refute), the man will move on. However, if they were to say, make eye contact and she looks away with a grimace, but keeps dancing, he's going to take control of the situation, since nothing was said, but only implied. Then you have guys who use the internet for meeting members of the opposite sex; these are statistically more insecure, lonely, and vulnerable people than the general population. Naturally the risks these people take to achieve their goals are much larger. I know at least two handfuls of women who have been raped by meeting a "harmless" person online. I know even more who are constantly harassed to this day by those same people who were initially met as kind, well-to-do people.
Yes, the internet has made me friends in other countries...but I'm a male. If someone tries to rape me, I can easily overpower them. I will also never meet these people one on one (usually I'll have an extra friend or two with) and I refuse to speak or meet with women online. Opposite sex relationships are never innocent in every day life with single parties, making the combination of social networking and genuine friendship impossible today. I know this because I was raised by women as well and thus know the mindsets between both sexes, allowing me to write this explanatory blog. Statistically, women are predated significantly more than men. Men also commit the majority of social networking crimes. Thus, my role as a male reduces my chances of danger exponentially more than if I were a female, and even so, I make sure to take every precaution necessary.
The fact is, every person online should be assumed harmful until proven otherwise. Millions of people on "relationship" areas of websites or on relationship websites are there to meet someone and have sex with them, or at the very least sexual contact. Hell, even my girlfriend was recently contacted by some older creep trying to flirt with her through e-mail. Being a woman, she replied in short, hinted tones. Being a man, there wasn't an outright "no" or "stop", so he assumed control of the situation (sexually and implicitly, of course) until she became uncomfortable and finally replied "stop". It was hard to explain the situation to her while being upset at the same time. I'm sure it seemed like I was angry another man was hollering, but she's sexy and I'd holler too if I was single. On the contrary, I wasn't mad at her (what college kid hasn't done a potentially dangerous dare?), but mad at him and guys in general.
You see, guys like that are now becoming the "norm" in our society. Men in general are using their power to manipulate women for their benefit. Women, ignorant (not by fault), innocent, and generally thoughtful of others' feelings, may think they are sending a man away when through his eyes they are asking for more. Men do not see beyond the surface; they merely see what women make them see. Sadly, enough women do not speak up. Many women, knowing their frailty, will let a rape happen without letting the man know of her disappointment for two reasons 1) she knows that showing her displeasure gives him satisfaction, thus refuses. 2) she thinks(knows) that since no one is immediately around to save her or if she gets raped, screaming and such won't help. I reject this conclusion using the same cause of the problem as the solution: technology. With advanced forensics and micro-medias, many rape victims can actually identify their assailant through technological means rather than a lineup (which is very unreliable). The same goes for sexual harassment in both public and cyber settings. The same applies for social networking. If sexual harassment, physical or emotional takes place, the beauty of e-mail tracking and written documents can easily incriminate the assailant.
Segues aside, women in America today have more opportunities and thus are more independent. In reaction to their previous abuses, many women are taking "independence" to the extreme today, refusing companionship from anyone, let alone the world-ruling men. These men become frustrated at the lack of women available. This frustration combined with violent pornography and "cyber" friends forms men who steal from, manipulate, rape, and hate our women.
Assuming education can be increased, proper systems can be put into place to prevent the dangers of cyberspace. However, the social damages have already been done. Less information is entering our brains, keeping us ignorant. The information we do receive is mind altering in the most negative of ways, including increased aggression, fear, and domination.
Women need to stop being naive and believing there can be single men in this world with whom they can be alone many times while retaining a neutral friendship. Men need to be real men: No more taking advantage of women's minds; No more dominating those weaker than you; No more trying to obtain relationships online. The world has more than 6 billion people, walk outside and grow a personality if you want sex without having to take it.
This leads to the ultimate question: Has our evolution of technology been more beneficial than harmful to mankind? With a review of the literature mentioned above, I assert that technology has taken away from western societies significantly more than it has given. Sadly, this trend has no signs of slowing in the future. As these technologies reach third world countries, rates of aggression, violence, sexual assault and rape are starting to increase. This is no coincidence. However, the fact remains that the general population cannot control this influx of technological advancement and societal decline. Therefore, education is and will continue to be first and foremost of importance when it comes to teaching our society about the perils of cyberspace in all of its forms. In another 50 years I am more than confident that if a majority of the free world isn't brainwashed, the amount of negative consequences compared to the benefits of cyberspace will become evident to the general population.
So, would I give up our technological advancement and cyberspace in order to preserve the less aggressive, less manipulative, more social, more communioned, though less global society? Without a doubt. I don't believe the civilian who has never left his state or country will use the purposes of these global services appropriately. If you want to be global, go into a global market or workforce. If you want to find people to steal money from or women to take advantage of or buy, you now have the luxury of accessing millions of people from all over the world from the comfort of your own home.
This is coming from a young adult in America who uses the internet every day. I'm sick of having a lower age than the number of rape victims I know. I'm sick of my advancement in psychology relying on the pain and suffering others are exposed to. I'm sick of this society that measures morals with thought and desires with action. Step up your game, America, or you won't be around for long.
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