Ten Things I Hate About You: Formspring and Online Bullying

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Formspring profiles have triggered an increase in online bullying

March 9, 2010

Alisha Azevedo, Managing Editor  

Filed under Opinions, Top Stories

 “Ask me ANYTHING!” proclaimed a Facebook status. One click later, Formspring.me appeared on the computer screen. The power to ask anonymous questions has now been granted to internet users, including many Presentation students. But is this new social networking tool doing more harm than good?

Formspring.me operates on an extraordinarily simple premise. Users create a Formspring profile, which simply includes a blank box welcoming any anonymous user to post questions. The Formspring user can then review the questions asked and decide which to answer. The questions and answers are then posted to the profile for all to read; they can also be streamed onto Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr accounts.

Formspring presents an alarming mindset in American teenage culture. It assumes that teens are willing to spend hours waiting for others to take interest in their lives and ask questions about them. By having the power to refuse to answer questions at leisure, the user can feel a rush of self-importance and feel a sense of authority at the ability to answer a question. Narcissism is brewing. As Southern Oregon University student Lauren McHugh so aptly puts it, “You already have a Facebook, possibly a Myspace, so why must people be so consumed with themselves? Point blank: you are not that interesting.”

Much more alarming, however, is the fact that online bullying has become an accepted part of the Formspring experience. With the ability to ask any question to the user without consequences and hidden behind the mask of anonymity, others can ask extremely personal and inappropriate questions. Questions regarding drug and alcohol use, relationships and family matters are often asked—and Formspring users seem to feel the need to post and respond to such questions. Others do not ask questions and simply use the site to launch personal attacks or cruel comments. Still others use it as a place to express a crush or secret admiration for the Formspring user.

All of these facts are extremely frightening. As Presentation attempts to uphold an open and accepting environment, forums like Formspring simply allow another mechanism for hatred and gossip to spread. It also promotes cowardice; if someone chooses to launch a tirade against someone else, they should not disguise themselves when launching such petty attacks. Conflicts should be handled face-to-face instead of leaving someone hurt and bewildered without knowing her assailant.

Senior Jessica Revallier agrees. She initially made a Formspring account because she thought it would be fun to answer random questions and saw the site’s popularity. She soon became disillusioned, however. “It’s just another chance for girls to be mean, and it’s corrupting society because they are hiding behind a computer,” she says.

Sophomore Katy Anderson says that though the site is entertaining, she would delete hers if asked inappropriate questions. “I haven’t really gotten anything mean, but some people have and it’s actually kind of hurtful,” she says.

Overall, Formspring is doing more harm than good. If students have a desire to answer interesting questions, they should engage in meaningful conversation at lunch. A screen is not a mask, and a conscience is stronger than the freedoms of anonymity.

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