Social norm or social harm: An exploratory study of Internet vigilantism

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2010-01-01
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Wehmhoener, Karl
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Chad Harms
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Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
The Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication offers two majors: Advertising (instructing students in applied communication for work in business or industry), and Journalism and Mass Communication (instructing students in various aspects of news and information organizing, writing, editing, and presentation on various topics and in various platforms). The Department of Agricultural Journalism was formed in 1905 in the Division of Agriculture. In 1925 its name was changed to the Department of Technical Journalism. In 1969 its name changed to the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications; from 1969 to 1989 the department was directed by all four colleges, and in 1989 was placed under the direction of the College of Sciences and Humanities (later College of Liberal Arts and Sciences). In 1998 its name was changed to the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication.
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Abstract

Following the Megan Meier MySpace hoax, public outcry for justice was large. When nothing happened under the law, Internet vigilantes took it upon themselves to dole out social justice for the slain teenager. With cyber shaming and other forms of Internet vigilante justice occurring worldwide, it is paramount to study the communication of Internet vigilantes and their calls to action. Looking through deviance and communication as social control, a better understanding of Internet vigilantism will occur. This study will help to answer what types of communication are used in the calls to action. This study will help further the study of cyber bullying, Internet vigilantism, online communication and the real world ramifications of Internet vigilantism.

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Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2010