On the internet, a person can be anything they want.  Instead of a plump, freckled, brown-haired, brown-eyed, middle-aged housewife living in Indiana, she can become a slim, tanned, blonde-haired, blue-eyed youthful supermodel living in Hawaii.  There has always been some question as to who was really at the other end of an instant message dialogue with a stranger or a chat room discussion.

Now, with the popularity of social networking sites growing, a person can change their identity on Facebook or MySpace as well.  But rather than creating a persona to increase their chances of making online friends or meeting someone, some create identities for criminal purposes.  Still others create identities for reasons understandable to none. 

Dyron L. Hart, 20, of Poplarville, MO, created a Facebook account, which in itself is not news because what 20-year-old doesn’t have a Facebook account? However Hart, who is African American, created a Facebook account posing as a white Supremacist, and used it to threatened an African American student through the social networking site. 

The fake profile was created in November and targeted a student at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.  Hart went so far as to obtain a picture from a white supremacist web page to use for his profile.  Part of Hart’s fictitious character’s motives were from his outrage at President Obama, an African-American, taking office. 

Hart claims his actions were all to “get a reaction.” However what he will most likely receive is a prison sentence. Hart pleaded guilty to the crime of communicating threats in interstate commerce on Wednesday, and, according to CNN, could receive up to five years in prison along with a possible 250,000 fine. 

The most puzzling question is why?  Although Hart claims that he just wanted to get a reaction, there seems like there would be more to such an elaborate scheme.  The bottom line is there is no safe place on the internet where complete trust is merited to any person.  Be aware the next time a stranger wants to be your buddy.  Some add anyone who requests to have the numbers of their friends as high as possible.  It is almost a competition to many, but take some caution. You never know who is on the other side of a computer. Especially if they’re adamant about making their presence known to you.