The ongoing issue of fake online profiles continues to be a problem in our society. People purposely create false identities on the internet, often to harass others. This can be considered a form of identity theft as they are essentially stealing someone else’s online persona. Many individuals have become victims of this troubling problem, and I strongly believe that those who create these fake profiles should face legal consequences. The existence of these deceptive profiles has resulted in various negative outcomes, including the spread of computer viruses, instances of cyber-bullying, and unfortunately, even cases of suicide. Additionally, it undermines people’s sense of self and personal identity. To effectively tackle this issue, it is essential to hold accountable anyone involved in creating fake profiles, regardless of whether any harmful actions have occurred as a result.
Creating a fake online profile should be deemed illegal as it poses significant risks. Social networking websites like Facebook have achieved remarkable popularity, with a user base exceeding 600 million worldwide. Individuals who are at least 13 years old can easily join and personalize their own Facebook page using an email address. To counteract spam and verify human identity, the introduction of a ‘Captcha’ system took place; unfortunately, spammers have found ways to circumvent it. As a result, users frequently come across links containing computer viruses in posts shared by their friends. These spammers exploit fabricated identities to distribute malicious software.
