The article “Virtual Death and a Real Dilemma: Identity, Trust, and Community in Cyberspace” (2005) by John W. Jordan discussed the online “betrayal” of fictional Kaycee Nicole Swenson’s battle with leukemia, which was documented, discussed and shared online with others before her non-existence was unveiled. The author looks into what it means as a community to respond to crises and how “the idea of ‘virtual community’ is reconceived and enacted by community members” (202). Deception is very easy online because of the nature of Internet communication itself, where being anonymous and creating any kind of persona can create an audience as it has for Kaycee.
I thought it was interesting to see such a huge amount of followers and support from a community that could not physically see the person they were supporting. Movements like these that grow online in the blogging community and elsewhere will always carry a little skepticism, and in the case of the Kaycee hoax as admitted by Debbie Swenson, community debates can continue even when the centerpiece surrounding it is no longer there (206). There is a level of distrust and suspicion in any online presence, but good communal elements come together for a positive effect when the intentions are seen as good and worthwhile. People that join campaigns started on places like Facebook for things like protests, fundraisers or advocating/awareness are under the impression that they are not being manipulated or deceived, and virtual communities stand behind a cause this way. One can only hope that it a particular situation, identity and trust can be understood so that people are not taken aback or misled, and it is always worthwhile to be careful on the Internet.
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