JuicyCampus is a very disturbing and hurtful "gossip" social networking website frequented by college students. 20/20 will be airing a segment on JuicyCampus May 16th.
Juicy Campus is a popular website frequented by college students. The website, launched in 2007, allows students to post whatever they want, totally anonymously. Students post comments about other students, including their entire name, anonymously. Once a message is posted, people are able to "vote" on comments. Once published, postings can not be edited or deleted.
To say the postings are disturbing is an understatement. The comments I have seen have been hateful, derogatory, inflammatory, and hurtful. While some name the most “promiscuous” college student, others publish untrue posts such as the biggest druggie or seller on campus.
The JuicyCampus slogan states, "Always Anonymous. Always Juicy."
- "There is no way for someone using the site to find out who you are. And we at JuicyCampus are not keeping track of who you are or what you post. In fact, we prefer not to know who you are."
- There is a disclaimer on JuicyCampus for those children under 18, "some content may be considered inappropriate and harmful to minors".
JuicyCampus users agree they will not post anything that is:
- "Unlawful, threatening, abusive, tortious,defamatory,obscene, libelous, or invasive of another's privacy."
- "You can’t post lies about people or groups – that’s called defamation and it’s illegal....
New Jersey’s e-commerce unit began investigating possible violations of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
While these types of websites can provide an outlet for students and provide a venue for freedom of expression, anonymous students are able to post cruel, malicious, hateful and inflammatory remarks about named people, anonymously.
It deeply saddens me to see websites like this. As an advocate for children's safety, freedom of expression is important. But when people are encouraged to post anonymous messages that are cruel and hateful about a named person, that is concerning.
ABC’s 20/20 will broadcast a segment on JuicyCampus Friday, May 16th. Please watch.
