“Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free classified advertisements (with jobs, internships, housing, personals, for sale/barter/wanted, services, community, gigs, resume, and pets categories) and forums on various topics” (wikipedia).
An article in the New York Times came out last week about a controversy Craigslist was facing with people selling prostitution on Craigslist.org. Code words, provocative cyber-advertisements, and offering escorts were the ways they went about it on the site. They would be typically suggesting more. Additionally, words have even been used on Craigslist for drugs.
I was surprised to hear this because I have used Craigslist before searching for housing and furniture, even though I never followed through with them. So to hear that this everyday, popular website has secret illegal activity going on came as surprise. I particularly liked this quote by Richard McGuire, a detective in Nassau County who was investigating the case: “Craigslist has become the high-tech 42nd Street, where much of the solicitation takes place now. Technology has worked its way into every profession, including the oldest.” This is so true. What’s next? It’s amazing how far social media networking has gone…people are not just selling household products, renting out their apartment anymore. People are selling their houses and their bodies! This also shows how advanced networking on the internet has become! Has it gone too far? Craigslist may be in need of some good PR after this scandal. However, they have so many positive features and good feedback, that I don’t think they are going to have any trouble with the occurrence of this incident.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/nyregion/05craigslist.html
