Version: 2008

Comments on: Report: Teen blackmailed classmates via Facebook

Anthony Stancl, 18, is accused of claiming to be a teenage girl on the social network, then convincing his high-school classmates to send him nude photos and videos of themselves.

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by brokenroadtv February 5, 2009 10:16 AM PST
This is truly sad. Teens are so highly motivated and creative if we give them the proper tools and outlets.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34sfUtUa344

I hope that the tide will eventually change for the better!
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by Universal_Indie_Records February 5, 2009 11:12 AM PST
Wow... what more can be said?
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by sodapop2k9 February 5, 2009 12:27 PM PST
I hope they charge those 30 kids with distributing child porn.
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by Dr_Zinj February 6, 2009 8:56 AM PST
Don't be stupid. The 30 young teenage males who sent in naked pictures were set up. A hot, pretty girl asks you for a sexually explict photo of yourself, it's not unsolicited. Depending on the age differences and state at the time of the alleged incidents, porn laws may not apply to them.



The point you missed is that the 30 males were victimized by this Anthony Stancl. Blackmailed into homosexual, possibly pedophilial rape. [CNET editors note: Prohibited content deleted.]



Another prime instance of the alleged link between homosexuality, and homosexual pedaphilia. Anyone know of a couple of good studies that support, or negate, the validity of the link theory?
by lacykemp February 5, 2009 1:07 PM PST
Ok..when I was 15 I think I was of sound mind and judgement to NOT give anyone naked photos of myself. Do these kids not understand how stupid that is?
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by mediocrates--2008 February 5, 2009 1:25 PM PST
When you were 15, you had the sound mind and judgment NOT to get a second party to take the picture with a moderately expensive camera, then find someone, somewhere, that would develop the film for you, and charge you a reasonable fee for however many copies you wanted to make? Which you would then have to deliver personally or mail by US Post?

Let's admit that the difference is in the ease and availability of photo-sharing, and not in the declining quality of 15-year-old sense.
by sythara February 5, 2009 1:39 PM PST
mediocrates--2008

Sure, blame it on technology.

The kids willingly did what they did, fully realizing what they were doing. They are not very smart, and in the future I foresee them being victims of the Nigerian letter scam. Stupid people will always be stupid, except in the past they died due to lack of safety equipment, now they live on to reproduce and breed more idiots.

Not saying that what this dude did was right, it wasn't. in fact that was very wrong, but people who fell for it are just as equally responsible and should be prosecuted at the very least for being idiots.
by BSinton February 5, 2009 1:47 PM PST
The lad has the ability to inivate .
He could be the next Bill Gates
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by dbackfan638 February 5, 2009 2:48 PM PST
HOPE THIS IDIOT GOT BUSTED FOR POSSION OF PORN!
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by susanfdm February 6, 2009 6:37 AM PST
As a mom, I find it very scary that there are so many sexual predators on the social networking sites. As careful as I try to be, I can't be sure my child is completely safe. There is a web site that can help parents contact their attorney general and MySpace to determine whether their child has been contacted by a sexual predator. www.childonlineprotectionservice.com
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by Dalkorian February 6, 2009 12:27 PM PST
Why are you to stupid to understand anything? Of course you can't be sure your child is completely safe, no parent ever could. It's your JOB to teach your children to use their brains and not fall for something stupid like this! It it NOT Myspace's job, it's not the job of some website you feel like prostituting for - it's all yours and yours alone.
by Stefaninafla February 6, 2009 7:46 AM PST
Ummm... even at the age of 15, I would not have sent some random person sexually explicit material of myself on request. These kids either were brought up in a bubble, or they're just plain stupid.
Prosecute the perpetrator according to law, and teach those kids personal responsibility!
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by Harrison912 February 6, 2009 11:05 AM PST
As a web site owner of safety and security products as well as a parent, this information is very disturbing. I'm on FaceBook to socially market and raise awareness for my products. Most parents feel defenseless when it comes to keeping an eye on their teens computer activity because they don't realize there is a product available to help them with this. The KEYkatcher home model is such a tool and is very reasonably priced.

Although this keylogger can help parents monitor their teens computer activity it won't help with their cell phone activities. Dr. Phil actually did a show last week on this topic and apparently there is a product or service that is available for this too. I think if you go to Dr. Phil.com you can locate it.

Thanks, Caroline, for this interesting but disturbing information.
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by confuciousx February 6, 2009 11:11 AM PST
What?!!! Facebook isn't immune to such acts against underage teenagers?!! All this time people thought only Myspace was the playing field for this kind of behavior. Hopefully this is a wake up call to all those self righteous Facebookers who praise the site for its clean, organized and "safe" online image. The truth be said, ANY place that becomes popular and has children as part of its demographic is prone to horrendous situations such as this. The only upside to this story is that it debunked the myth that Facebook and people on it are all out wholesome and without criminal tendencies. Parents, keep an eye on your children...THAT is the bottom line.
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by bease1 February 8, 2009 5:19 PM PST
Dr. Zinj -

First of all, I in no way condone the actions of this man, and I believe he should be prosecuted. Consider this, though:

Let's imagine a scenario in which the accused was actually the 18 year old girl he posed as. The law, after all, is about technicalities: once you turn 18, if you blackmail and rape, you are fully subject to maximum prosecution, right? Ask yourself, would any prosecutor seek to sentence an 18 year old female to 300 years in jail for the blackmail and rape of her fellow, male classmates?



The only reason this case is considered so scandalous is because the accused posed as a girl. The only reason he will be in prison for the rest of his life is because he is GAY. We can't LYNCH them like they do in IRAN so we sentence them to 300 years! Shame, shame, shame on people who use the black and white nature of the American legal system so harshly. Shame, shame on you.


[CNET editors note: Prohibited content deleted.]
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About The Social

CNET News' Caroline McCarthy is a downtown Manhattanite who believes that, despite popular opinion, the Web can actually help your social life. She's happily addicted to fun social-media tools from Twitter to Yelp to Facebook, sends an inordinate number of text messages, and has a tendency to waste time at the office reading restaurant blogs. Here, she explores all facets of the Web's gregarious side, as well as the unique tech culture in her home city of New York. (Don't call it Silicon Alley.)

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