St. Cloud Craigslist ‘Missed Connections’ Has Been Shut Down
If you enjoyed surfing Craigslist "personals" for a good laugh or to connect with that random stranger you saw at the gas station last week, you're out of luck. US Congress just passed HR 1865, “FOSTA”, Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act, which subjects websites to criminal and civil liability when the users misuse personals sections unlawfully. Obviously with Craigslist being a free service where anyone can post, it is a risk for online sex trafficking, and one that the website isn't willing to take. Craigslist did issue a statement saying they hopefully will get to bring the personals section back one day, and
To the millions of spouses, partners, and couples who met through craigslist, we wish you every happiness!”
This is probably for the best. Sex trafficking is a huge issue not to be taken lightly, and the online world makes it easier for predators to take advantage of people. The silly missed connections will be missed, but if it makes the internet safer, I think we will all be OK without it.