{"id":828323,"date":"2026-07-27T02:21:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T02:21:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/828323\/"},"modified":"2026-07-27T02:21:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T02:21:27","slug":"calgary-confession-posts-create-real-consequences-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/828323\/","title":{"rendered":"Calgary confession posts create real consequences: Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"

What may seem like an innocent way to poke fun at strangers can be anything harmless, both victims and experts agree.<\/p>\n

During his first semester at Bow Valley College, a friend of Hriday\u00a0Sharma sent him a screenshot of a post on a college confession page. Although it\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0include his name, the description of his appearance, program and where he was usually seen made him certain it was about him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI started wondering whether people on campus had figured out the confession was about me,\u201d said Sharma, pursuing his Diploma in Finance.<\/p>\n

\u201cI became more aware of people looking at me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

For several weeks,\u00a0he found himself looking at the people around him, wondering whether the anonymous author was someone he passed every day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although the confession\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0insulting, he said it crossed a personal boundary.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI just didn\u2019t like having my personal life become something people could speculate about,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

At the time, Sharma chose not to report the post to the school, because he\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0believe it violated any rules. Instead, support from friends helped him move on.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, nearly a year later, Sharma\u00a0wishes that\u00a0the person had spoken to him directly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI wish the person had either kept their feelings private or spoken to me in person,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Experts say anonymity can build connections but also create harm\u00a0<\/p>\n

Jordan Kidney, a professor at Mount Royal University, said anonymous online spaces are neither inherently good nor bad. Instead, he believes the people using\u00a0them\u00a0and the communities surrounding them\u00a0determine\u00a0whether they foster connection or cause harm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology creates the opportunity, but people shape the outcome,\u201d Kidney said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said that on one hand, anonymity can encourage honest conversations by giving people a space to discuss mental health,\u00a0discrimination\u00a0or personal struggles without fear of judgment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

At the same time, it can reduce accountability and make it easier for people to forget there is another person behind the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people do not see the person receiving their words, they may treat the interaction as content rather than communication,\u201d Kidney said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Confession pages can reflect both the strengths and weaknesses of a campus community. While they sometimes celebrate acts of kindness or provide an outlet for students who are afraid to speak publicly, they can also normalize personal attacks if moderators allow harmful content to remain online.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenge is deciding how to listen without treating every anonymous claim as\u00a0a verified\u00a0fact,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Author, speaker and coach Trena Laine, whose work focuses on grief, loss, mental health, entrepreneurship and burnout, said that Sharma\u2019s instinct to turn to his support system was a strong choice. <\/p>\n

\u201cIf you can\u2019t process it alone, you need to share how you feel with someone,\u201d Laine said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Students should take regular breaks from social media, surround themselves with supportive\u00a0communities\u00a0and seek professional help if anonymous posts begin affecting their sleep,\u00a0anxiety\u00a0or daily lives, according to Laine.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you find yourself losing sleep, talking to someone immediately is the right thing you can do for yourself,\u201d Laine said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For Sharma, the discomfort eventually faded, but it changed how he thinks about anonymous confessions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAsk yourself whether you\u2019re doing it for them or for yourself,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven if your intentions are good, putting someone in the spotlight without their consent can make them uncomfortable.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He hopes his story will help students choose direct, respectful conversations over anonymous posts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnonymous posts can seem harmless, but they can still affect someone\u2019s privacy and make them feel exposed,\u201d Sharma said.<\/p>\n

Liked it? Take a second to support Sakshi Rohal on Patreon!<\/p>\n

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