The Issue of Anonymity

Is it appropriate that the FrumTeens moderator remains anonymous? Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein, writing in Jewish Action, appears to think so:

Forgive the cloak-and-dagger stuff, but M has good reason to keep his identity secret. It allows him to speak bluntly to his audience, without defending his positions to everyone who would do things differently. It also forces the reader to focus on the merits of his arguments, rather than to link his words to his positions.

Yet why should the moderator not have to defend his positions, as does everyone else? Why shouldn't the impressionable teen - or his/her parents - be allowed to know the moderator's identity and positions?

Furthermore, while there may be reasons for the moderator to keep his identity secret, there are even more important reasons for the public to know his identity. Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro is quoted as follows:

...bad influences sometimes come in the guise of actual assistance. Because at-risk and confused teenagers are often desperate for assistance - as are their parents - they will turn to anyone who promises salvation. The results are often disastrous, as in the following examples:

For years, "Mr. Bergman" (not his real name) was involved in helping troubled teenagers. A number of them are actually indebted to him, for he really did help. Not long ago, "Mr. Bergman" was arrested for pilfering electronic and computer equipment from his place of work, supposedly fencing" (selling) the stolen items through teenagers who he dealt with.

A principal of a local Bais Yaakov school was informed by a teenage girl that her wayward friend, who had trouble getting admitted into a school, was so desperate that she accepted assistance from a member of our community who offered to help get her into a school in return for immoral behavior.

A teenage girl who was having trouble getting along with her parents met a couple in a late-night Kosher restaurant. The couple offered the girl a "job" as a "model" if she would run away from home and take shelter with them.

A man who used to work for a prominent Frum social service organization continued his "chesed" of helping wayward teenagers on his own, until it was discovered that the reason he no longer works for that organization would frighten any parent from letting their teenager near him.

The purpose of relating these unfortunate but very true stories is to issue a word of caution to parents of rebellious youth: Be careful where you go for help. There are many reasons why an adult would want to work with problem adolescents - reasons that range from altruism down... Rebellious teenagers are vulnerable teenagers. Their families, desperate. All easy targets for unwell or unscrupulous predators.

This is not intended to cast any suspicions on the FrumTeens moderator, Heaven forbid. But Rabbi Shapiro's point is entirely accurate: In this day and age, it is unacceptable to have people wielding great power over vulnerable teens if they are not supervised in some way. Even if the person is not a predator, there must be a basic system for accountability. And the most basic requirement for accountability is that the person's identity be known.