Anonymous Quickie was one of the most popular search terms on Google on January 1. 6th. 2010. The date also coincides with the broadcast of an episode of Law and Order with the same title. So what is an anonymous quickie anyway?
In the episode, it is a web-based service for matching up locals, using the cell phone’s geo-targeting technology, for casual sex dates without knowing more about each other. Just pleasure, nothing attached.
The dramatic increase in search volume for the term is an alarming sign that a disaster is about to happen or is already happening. It indicates that there are tons of people interested in said service or that the episode has warned people and they want to make sure their children are safe online.
The tragic fact is that the fast anonymous type of service already exists in a web format. Some websites are specialized in local adult dating, others are specialized in matching unfaithful spouses.
The other tragic fact is that there is no way to verify subscriber information. You sign up and fill out the form with the information you want others to know about you, and you can fake anything, including your age. What happens to you also happens to curious teenagers (like the one in the episode that was the victim of abuse and murder).
The Internet community is a reflection of the worst of reality. Anonymously, people can be your worst situations online hiding behind their avatar or screen name. This is a real danger our kids face online. Unless we do something about it, there could be more and more quick and anonymous victims.
The good news is that most schools monitor the keylogs for their entire network. It doesn’t avoid danger, but it makes it traceable. This will make it less likely to happen through the school network if someone is really after our children.
Our responsibility is our home networks. Try to install software that monitors your children’s Internet use, either with or without their knowledge.