Gossipreport.com

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"A better way to do what everybody does"
URL	http://www.GossipReport.com
Type of site	Social network service
Registration	Yes
Available language(s)	English
Launched	June 2006
Current status	Active

GossipReport.com was created in June of 2006 and claims that it is a Social Networking website. The website's users have the ability to anonymously gossip about anyone they want. Instead of creating a profile about themselves, GossipReport.com members can anonymously create a profile about someone else, including loading photos and posting gossip about them.^[1] The content on GossipReport.com has sparked heated debate over free speech versus right to privacy on the web.^[2]

Contents 1 Founders 2 Elizabeth Bloch interview with Dr Phil 3 Marysville Pilchuck High School controversy 4 Elizabeth Bloch interview with Dori Monson 5 References 6 See also 7 External Links 7.1 Media Coverage

[edit] Founders

The site is based in Wilmington, North Carolina. One of the site's founders is Elizabeth Bloch, who has stated she is a 2005 graduate of SUNY-Albany with a degree in communications. Bloch is one of four friends who enjoyed gossip and on-line networking. Bloch has stated that the friends got the idea for the site while they were working part-time jobs trying to make ends meet.^[3] According to a StarNewsOnline article printed in 2007, Brett Martin, the head of criminal background check agency "Castle Branch", is the "main investor" for www.GossipReport.com.^[4]

[edit] Elizabeth Bloch interview with Dr Phil

On January 21, 2008, Elizabeth Bloch appeared on the Dr. Phil Show to talk about her website. The appearance began with a brief advertisement about the site. That was followed by an exchange between Dr. Phil and Bloch about whether the gossip on the site was harmful and the anonymous nature of the users. The appearance ended with the testimony of a woman who was accused of drunk driving by a user of the site. The complete interview is on www.youtube.com at the following link: Gossip Report on Dr. Phil.^[5]

[edit] Marysville Pilchuck High School controversy

On March 21, 2008, the Everett Herald ran a story about the effects of the website on the community of Marysville-Pilchuck High School in the state of Washington. The story indicated that "students have used the site to bully, post compromising photos of their rivals and spread rumors about other kids' supposed sexual experiences, abortions, eating disorders, diseases and drug use." However, in the article, Bloch justified the site on the basis that "[We have] no legal or ethical responsibility to protect kids by censoring gossip." Bloch also stated that if enough users complain about certain gossip it will be taken down, but that site staff would not remove gossip just because it may be a lie or may be hurtful.^[6] The Everett Herald later ran an editorial on the issue on March 23, 2008. This editorial can be found at the following link: Everett Herald editorial on gossip website.^[7]

[edit] Elizabeth Bloch interview with Dori Monson

In response to the controversy at Marysville-Pilchuck, Seattle-based talk show host Dori Monson interviewed Elizabeth Bloch on March 24, 2008. In the interview, Monson confronted Bloch with several pointed questions about the website's marketing practices and ethics. During the interview, Bloch vigorously defended the principles of the website. The complete interview can be found by following this link: Bloch interview with Dori Monson. ^[8]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• List of social networking websites
• Gossip

[edit] External Links

• Main Site

[edit] Media Coverage

• Web site flagged as breeding ground for ill will
• Gossip website jolts Marysville-Pilchuck High School
• A complete absence of morality hits Marysville
• In the online world, kids are on their own
• Local Website Denied for Sponsorship
• Gossip Web site debuts in Wilmington, legal questions surface
• Local gossip girl defends Web site on talk show