Website ruining lives of youths
A SCANDALOUS website, that is said to be ruining the lives of black youth, gives people and teens total freedom to say anything about anyone.
The site, www.toilet.wen.ru, has apparently led to the suicide of a teenager in Escourt, KwaZulu-Natal, who had been defamed.
Teens spill the beans about their friends and enemies on the site that allows "toilet users" to remain anonymous.
One victim, who did not want to be named, said she was targeted on the website by people who spread the rumour that she was HIV positive.
"I gave birth in June last year then lost a lot of weight. People said on the site that I used to be pretty, but now I'm not, and that I have Aids."
The slanderous comments have even resulted in one Mandeni mechanical parts salesman losing business. He revealed that his life came crashing down on Sunday when he was alerted to what was said about him on the site. "My live-in girlfriend left me after someone told her I was a target on the site," he said.
"They spread the rumour that I had had affairs with married women."
What's more, unlike MXit and Facebook, toilet users can remain anonymous and this, according to child psychologist Tshepiso Matentjie, makes its impact on youth more devastating. "It disempowers the person because there is no way they can identify the culprits. The person writing the damaging things about you has no fear of repercussions."
Matentjie said she discussed the site a few months ago on SABC's popular Yo-TV where it was raised as a concern by the youth.
"I had no idea though that its impact had reached such damaging proportions."
The site allows users to be specific about who they want to target - it's divided into provinces and each province is further broken down into suburbs or townships.
CheeseBoy
What's more, unlike MXit and Facebook, toilet users can remain anonymous and this,what a load of garb, facebook and Mixit are just as bad, just take a look at recent reports of kids being lured by sex pests. these type of sites are a blessing from god to child molesters.
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Torso
I've heard about this site but Im yet to visit it. A friend told me the people there hold no punches and teachers who mess with schoolgirls have got it the most lol. But damn people, this is not right.Report Abuse
letshego
I visited the site when I heard about it. People's lives are being destroyed by this site.This industry needs to be regulated.Visit the site and find out for yourself you might find yourself or friends being mentioned there.Report Abuse
MamaZen
Safa yi-technology. Why cant people use this in a constructive way instead of being so d@mn destructive. Haai, people who come up with these sites le bona maan.Eish!Report Abuse
Teeblaza
CheeseBoy I can not agree with you more I hate them with passion. in this case, whoever created and or own the website must be held reponsible. what is happening there it's a bullshit( ke boloko ba poo)Report Abuse
Torso
I tried to get in and I couldnt access the Mahikeng and Lichtenburg sites. But I did access Rusty sites and I saw no one getting a new one torn into them lol. But I'll visit them some other time to see what the deal is.Report Abuse
HARRYM
i beleive that the web site needs to be regulated or be closed down. peoples lives, marriages, Hiv status are disclosed on the web without any trace of the person who did that. i think that ICASA must look into this web and close it down because of the vulgar words that are being used on that web.Report Abuse
CheeseBoy
@Teeblazayep these sites are filthy and encourage sick stuff. in fact sites of this nature should not be published in the media coz they have already contributed to more ratings.
@HARRYM
no such luck. the site is actually hosted in Russia. closing it down is fruitless coz it appears the owner keeps changing hosting ISP
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TruthHurts
Anonymous my Toilet! How come such websites get registered in the first place. Such rubbish encourages criminality. People are focusing on bad behaviour because our Govt allows it. Our Govt is so incompetent. Believe me controlling the registration of websites should be a responsibility of ICASA under the communications ministry. But instead of developing policies and passing legislation to control things like mixit and toilet, they are busy squandering public funds. We are not being taken care of, not protected and not safe at all on the hands of our government.Report Abuse