Do Not Turn to The Dark Side

 

The Dark Web. You may have heard of it. An alternate side of the world wide web where you can buy illegal matter and see disturbing media. What goes on, on the dark web is a mystery to many of us and unfortunately 10% of Australian’s use it (Hair, 2018), particularly young Australians to purchase drugs. Although some individual’s jobs may be revolved around the peculiar abyss, the dark web has negative impacts and holds content that should not be available to people as it is disrespectful to both the viewer and the person who may be on screen.

 

The multiple catholic social teachings all cover the topic of dignity for human life. Whether it’s options for the poor or rights of workers, the many values have respect for life in common. Dignity in the real-world is treating yourself and others with consideration, and dignity online is the same. You have human dignity if you are thoughtful to others online. Users of the dark web does not follow this. Even if they don’t mean to, they are disrespecting the lives of others just by being associated with the platform. There have been many instances when people are just browsing the dark side of the web out of pure curiosity but end up on an unreliable link containing dreadful, harmfully impactful content (Wolfe, 2015). The mistreating of another person can lead to mental illnesses such as depression resulting in a lack of respect the individual has on their own life. In addition, a lot of the dark web is people selling drugs, with some of these buyers being youths. Consuming illicit drugs are damaging to bodies and therefore you are dishonouring your own if you take them.

 

Shulman and Joost’s Nerve was a movie based around a computer app that encourages the participation or watching of people completing daring tasks set by the app with the involvement of the audience on whether they think the contestant should partake in the dangerous dare or not. The audience sees many unimaginable situations and dangers of the dark web. Although the movie does not explicitly say the app is a part of the dark web, in real life, a “game” like this, due to the graphic content, and attempts to pull down the app, the dark web is incorporated.  

 A dare from the movie Nerve. 

Barbuto, D. (2016). Movie review: ‘Nerve’ a cautionary tale. The Daily Ardmoreite; The Daily 

Ardmoreite. https://www.ardmoreite.com/news/20160728/movie-review-nerve-cautionary-tale

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Many young people looking for a purpose in life may turn to the dark web and selling their lives to partake in terrorist actions that do not value lives. The web consists of human trafficking(including children), illicit drugs and the holding of many illegal graphics. Identities, lives and possessions are stolen. Lives are given a price with no respect. Hit men are hired by powerful people to take the lives of people who they don’t agree with, or even more disturbing, the dark web contains a place where someone is murdered morbidly for no particular reason. Consequences on exploring the space can be jail, psychiatric hospital, getting on someone’s bad side, putting your life and the lives of your loved ones in danger.

 

Though you may be curious due to the unknowing of the place, keep yourself and others safe from physical and mental damage and steer away from the dark web. There, people do not give or are given human respect. If you see anything that is devaluing human life online, do not hesitate, tell a family member, teacher, call a helpline or even call emergency services if it’s extreme circumstances. Don’t let things continue and don’t involve yourself and encourage the horrid things that can occur online. If you witness a crime, don’t be afraid to call the Australian emergency line, 000. If it is less of an emergency, and more of a concern, contact 13 11 14 (lifeline). If you are now hoping to get onto the dark web after hearing all about it out of interest, learn more about the dark and web and danger it withholds at: https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/deep-web.