LITTLE GOSSIP WEBSITE - LET'S SHUT IT DOWN

[willow]

I've been forwarded this by a friend who has a teenage son. Fortunately, my DS is a bit young to be bothered by this, but I've had a look and it's vile... Not sure where to put this, but as it's aimed at teenagers I thought this would be best place.

The most appalling website has sprung to prominence. It?s an open book for bitching, bullying, backstabbing and the very, very worst of teenage brutishness.

Anyone can write anonymous vitriol about anyone AND name that person. Please look at the website: www.littlegossip.com and then:

1.  Block it from all computers to which your children have access
   

2.  Send a complaint to both of these email addresses and your MP and to anyone else who you think might reasonably be able to do something to stop this.
   

[email protected] and [email protected]
3) Forward this email to your entire address book.

Please take the time to do this now or more and more teenagers will suffer.

Childishly, I went on there and ticked the false boxes on mean gossip and left a load of pleasant counter gossip comments (ie, really, I think Sarah's lovely). Maybe the unpleasantness can be a bit defused a little

Report on Today programme just now.

It's based in Belize, I think they said. Gist of the piece seemed to be that although it's repulsive, and individual comments that break the law can be addressed (eg there was apparently one where a pupil had threatened to rape a teacher and legal action was taken), the site as a whole is not doing anything illegal and cannot be shut down.

It was described as a particularly bad example of something that happens a lot online - the abuse of anonymity.

Bear that in mind whilst thinking about how you want to spend your time re this. I don't think a load of outraged parents and schools will change the fact that the law isn't being broken, so it won't be a case of just making enough noise for someone to shut it down in one go.

:(

Bizarre site

Far better campaign is to target the site itself and flood it with posts

The company that it is apparently registered under is a Belize address but the creator/s could easily be based in the UK.
In fact, if you see how the Twitter posts are phrased, it is definitely very strong British english.
Also the site started briefly in November last year, spreading through English public schools. Seems very British in its focus.
So - why,if it is such a good idea, does the man who created this site not make himself public, rather than hide behind Twitter/Facebook accounts and LittleGossip?

I personally feel that it is worth writing to MP's and citing some of the most offensive/racist/threatening comments and asking whether this can be changed through a change in the law.

I agree with Coffee - going in there and turning round nasty comments, removing them and replacing them with an 'abc' will at least remove the harmful comments and help protect some young people from more harm.

Toughasoldboots
That is so awful for your dd and the rest of the family.

I just do not understand why people are prepared to accept this hole in the law and allow it to continue. Everytime you post something online it leaves behind a trail even if you are not giving your name. When the police investigate criminal activity online they can trace people. The law needs to be updated to reflect the growing seriousness of what is happening online.
There is no harm in trying. Even if it doesn't succeed, being complacent or resigning ourselves to the situation is not the right approach.

I agree Tough...oldboots (too long a name to type!!)

The university pages are now getting busier so many students are now being harrassed and written about online anonymously under the name of 'fun banter'. Banter is only banter if both sides share the joke.

Loads of parents have given really good ideas on dealing these pages.I have put them all together - if you feel like doing something to combat this site and others like it - here are everyones ideas in one place!

1.Write to your local MP
2.Write to Vince Cable
3.Go on to the site and report every racist or obscene comment and replace it with something harmless.
4.Leave lines saying posts can be traced. It is not anonymous.
5.Leave the details for anti-bullying charities

1. If you see a highly sexually offensive or racist comment about someone then you could call that school or university in case they are unaware that the site is being used this way by its students.

7.Email the site - address is in the bottom left of the page.

1. Email the webhosts in the US.

Any other ideas ?

Although not sure if it is possible on that site, but I was thinking that if enough people could be motivated then post on the site like have a nice day everyone and this will devalue the site if enouth people o itt regularly

I emailed the site asking why my DD's local college was on there when it is 14-18 year olds - my DD went there at 14. I notice you can only request for a site to be removed if you are the institution, but sod that, thought I'd try.

Not holding my breath, though.

sorry, request for an institution to be removed.

If any of you have any time free to turn some of the nasty comments into something bland or just type abc, just go to Little Gossip and report any offensive comments you find, you do not have to give your real email address.
Thanks!

Good news - Little Gossip has decided to close down!!
Thank you to anyone who contacted them or helped to report comments. I am sure it all helped to make a difference.

yay

Yay!

I'm pleased now that I complained to them. You can think these things aren't making a scrap of difference, but maybe complaining to them that my 14 year old's college was on there made some small difference - I guess if enough people did it they would be worried about repurcussions. I'm sure it wasn't just mumsnet but I do feel very pleased at the outcome.

Formspring next?

Well I know less about Formspring but I have seen that it has been talked about by lots of Mums who's children have been bullied on that forum.
Anonymity seems to be the common theme?

By the Way, the Telegraph is running an article today naming the man behind Little Gossip. See here www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet/8320468/How-a-teenager-spawned-internet-monster-LittleGossip.com-from-his-bedroom.html

As I suspected, it was created by a British man. the article says that the webhosts Quadranet received no complaints. Well that isnt true - as I for one complained twice through their website in LA.

webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:6hPbEsBoX70J:www.nashy.co.uk/about+ted+nash+somerset&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&source=www.google.co.uk
Wonder if this is the same man in Somerset who has this site www.nashy.net and describes himself as an internet entrepreneur.

I just got followed on Twitter by its new incarnation, Plenty Of Gossip. Fuck knows why - I'm 29 and the only teenagers I know are related to me.

Hello - I joined mumsnet to post this message - hoping you can help....

Little Gossip is now active again in the UK.

Students at my daughters college are anonymously posting libelous and cruel statements about her friends... I have contacted the college principal and he has authored an e-petition to the Department of Education. I have been able to dig out some information regarding who holds the owner information for the web content (see contact details below for reporting abuse to the hosting company).

Meanwhile if you could visit the link below and sign the petition and share the link this would help.

submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23177

response from the domain name registrants 'Domains by Proxy'

Dear Richard Barnett,

We are in receipt of your correspondence regarding LITTLEGOSSIP.COM. Please be advised that Domains By Proxy ("DBP") provides a private registration service that allows its customers to register domain names without listing their contact information in the public WHOIS database. Since DBP is listed as the registrant of the domain name, it may appear that DBP operates or has an interest in the domain name or website. That is not the case; DBP is neither a domain name registrar, nor a hosting provider and has no control over website content.

Therefore, we highly recommend you contact the hosting provider (who can affect website content) and they will investigate the issue. Generally, the DNS name server operators (identified in the Whois listing) and the hosting providers are the same entity. For your convenience, we have listed the hosting provider below:

Hosting Provider:
LEASEWEB
P.O. Box 93054
1090BB AMSTERDAM
Netherlands
www.leaseweb.com
[email protected]
Phone +31 20 3162880

In addition to contacting the hosting provider, you may reply to this email and request us to forward your complaint and contact information to the customer. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the customer will reply, but this is yet another option for you to pursue.

Finally, should you still desire our customer's identity, we will require a properly served subpoena. You may view our subpoena policies here: www.domainsbyproxy.com/policy/Subpoena.aspx

Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.

Very truly yours, etc

*

Sorry to re-awaken this thread - and also if there are more recent ones I could have added to.

Let's close this site - now hosted in Holland? - down for good.

Many thanks - Richard.

I think you would be better off starting a whole new thread in an are with more traffic TBH.
Repulsive sites like this should not be allowed to be active.

Richard
Thanks for posting this.
Yes - have started a new thread with your message as I think it will help to let people know that this problem has not gone away - far from it.