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Learn Something New Every Day: Internet Wars

Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Alyssa Schafer
Her Campus Placeholder Avatar Katelyn Kivel
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at WMU chapter.

He posted it on Facebook.
She tweeted it.
 
What is up with all the internet bullying?!? Did we forget that we are HUMANS and should be discussing our problems face to face and NOT via the internet? This week my Facebook feed has been blowing up with people bashing each other and their organizations! Don’t worry WMU, it’s not just you! Even the high schoolers have it going on! (YES I have high school friends, thanks to my younger brothers). But why are we so mean??
 
When did we forget that Internet is a tool to increase our efficiency in the world and NOT to bash each other! The outlets that people are using (Facebook, twitter, tumblr) are all SOCIAL networks! Places for you to interact with your FRIENDS (remember that concept??). There has been a lot of negativity lately- especially in WMU world. As my good friend Nikki said: “can’t we all just get along?”
 
Now, you are probably thinking, “Alyssa, we all have Freedom of Speech and we can say whatever we want”. Yes, the States are fortunate enough to have such a right, and I am grateful for that, however, there is a line between saying what you want to say and saying what is appropriate (specifically regarding the internet). If you think it’s going to make someone upset because you are directing your comment toward them, then maybe you shouldn’t post it on the internet. I’m not saying you can’t say whatever you want… but lets just do it to people’s faces. (Internet etiquette anyone?) I’ve always had this philosophy that if its personal- talk in person.
 
Let’s think about what is being posted worldwide- hate blogs against groups of people, against the government, against individuals… its crazy out there!
 
We are a generation that has our entire lives on some form of a digital format. Everything. It is up to US to regulate how we are using the internet and how we are teaching the youngsters after us to use it! There are already crazy reports of internet bullying from high school and middle school students! C’mon youth of America! Lets play nice.
 
If you want to discuss, email me! We can grab a coffee ;)
 
Until next time!
-Alyssa

Editor: Katelyn Kivel

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Katelyn Kivel is a senior at Western Michigan University studying Public Law with minors in Communications and Women's Studies. Kate took over WMU's branch of Her Campus in large part due to her background in journalism, having spent a year as Production Editor of St. Clair County Community College's Erie Square Gazette. Kate speaks English and Japanese and her WMU involvement includes being a Senator and former Senior Justice of the Western Student Association as well as President of WMU Anime Addicts and former Secretary of WMU's LBGT organization OUTspoken, and she is currently establishing the RSO President's Summit of Western Michigan University, an group composed of student organization presidents for cross-promotion and collaboration purposes. Her interests include reading and writing, both creative and not, as well as the more nerdy fringes of popular culture.