Facebook secret page of universities in Hong Kong

Facebook 'Secret' pages of various Universities in Hong Kong are public pages which share various topics about University life in an anonymous manner. Although they are called a 'Secret' page, Facebook users are able to view the 'Secrets' after clicking on the 'follow' button of the pages. Facebook 'Secret' pages began to show up in early 2013. Within a few months, there was a considerable increment in the popularity of the pages. Facebook users are allowed to post statuses about various topics of University life to the administrators of the page. The administrators will then post the 'Secrets' on the pages without exposing the identity of the writers, after which Facebook users are allowed to share and comment on.
Advantages
There are many advantages of Facebook 'Secrets' pages. Anonymous-posting encourages students to raise any interesting, sensitive or controversial topics about University life on a public platform without the fear of being judged or scrutinized.
, This allows more people to participate, and it allows them to feel less shy about the topics which they often relate to. It promotes freedom of speech and protects a person's privacy, while reducing their self-consciousness. In anonymity, people also tend to be more kind and generous, praising writers and thanking them.
Moreover, it also serves as a confession page for University students to post about the person they are secretly in love with. On some occasions, it is also a place to report 'lost and found' items in the school, given the popularity of the page. In general, most of the posts provide entertainment for the students as they speculate about the identity of the poster in addition to reading the interesting content of the posts.
Disadvantages
Although the Facebook Secret page is a user-friendly platform which allows students to freely express their point of view, there are certain disadvantages. ‘Technology cannot replace face to face communication as intimacy will be absent.’ Eric Wong, one of the most influential businessman and writer in Hong Kong said. Concerns have been raised over the use of the page. The lack of face-to-face communication may give rise to certain social problems, in that students become too passive and opt to rely on cyber-communication.
The 'Secret' page may bring a bad influence to the University's reputation. Students tend to complain, often with foul language, about the University's shortcomings instead of voicing out suggestions.When these posts are visible to the public, outsiders can not only measure the maturity of the students in the University, but they also become aware of the quality of the students; for example, their language skill and critical thinking skill.
A more serious issue is the degree of credibility of the posts. It is difficult for the administrators of the page to identify and filter out the unreliable posts. In addition, the confessors may not necessarily be the students of the University. Hence, it is easy for them to post rumors which harm the reputation of the school, without being caught.
Proper Use
Although using the 'Secret' page is convenient, learning how to communicate with others in real life is crucial. Interpersonal skills such as face-to-face communication is important in today's society. The 'Secret' pages is a place to propose ideas and suggestions, and not flaming. Like other internet platforms, the 'Secrets' page requires users to adhere to basic online etiquette. Users should be careful not to abuse their rights by condemning the school or using it to have personal attacks against others. It is every users' responsibility to respect others' rights. Users should obey laws and moral values, and not spread malicious content. In short, the secret page is a positive platform that should be used to raise awareness, solve problems, promote communication, build mutual trust and improve the degree of social harmony.
See Also
* Facebook
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* Social software
* Anonymous blogging
* Flaming
* Flame war
* Secret London

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