
A comment by Tom Wannenmacher, mimikama.org
First steps in the digital world
It was about twelve years ago when I delved into the world of social media and especially Facebook with the almost childlike curiosity of an explorer. Back then I saw a documentary about Facebook and wondered what all the people were doing there! A new, limitless world that seemed both frightening and fascinating to me led me on a journey of learning, discovery and networking. Social media provided a platform for voices to be heard and stories to be told that might otherwise never have been encountered. I felt the electrifying freedom and incredible possibilities that this digital landscape offered - a platform that could bring a simple message to every corner of the world.
But it didn't take long until I discovered the dark side of this digital paradise. Like a coin, the Internet has two sides: one light and one dark, one beneficial and one destructive. This awakening was brutal and painful.
Birth of a mission
It was during my time as a freelance commercial artist that I experienced the internet in a whole new way. I had signed up on Facebook, not as an avid gamer, but to play the game “Farmville”. But for me, Farmville wasn't just a game - it was a canvas for my creativity. I used the digital farm as a platform to showcase my skills as a graphic artist. With each addition of details and decorations I made my farm unique, filling it with life and colors like a painter fills his canvas. It became a place that gave me joy and inspiration.
Over time, my farm gained popularity. More and more players became aware of my unusual design and I gained more and more “neighbors” – people who connected with my farm and became part of my Facebook friends list. This community that had formed around my farm became a family to me - a digital family that fulfilled me in ways I never expected.
But in the midst of all this joy and excitement, I fell victim to a scam. Criminals posing as “Farmville” lured me into a cell phone subscription trap. This incident came as a shock to me - it opened my eyes to the dark side of the internet and showed me how easy it is to get scammed online. It was a wake-up call that made me consider starting Mimikama.
The idea behind Mimikama was simple: I wanted to warn my “Farmville” neighbors and friends about the dangers of the Internet and help them avoid becoming victims of this type of fraud themselves. The name Mimikama came about because I was looking for a word that was somehow related to “Facebook”. So I decided to translate “Like”, “I Like” or “I like” into Swahili. Back then I was very naive and thought that Google Translate translated correctly. But later a club pointed out to me that this translation was not entirely correct. Today, Mimikama is simply a made-up word, a term that has become popular over the last twelve years and stands for something important: fighting online fraud and promoting respect and understanding online.

The bitterness and anger I felt soon transformed into a determination that drove me to take an active role in combating such threats. This is how Mimikama was born – a beacon in the murky waters of the internet. Mimikama is an organization that specializes in combating internet fraud and misinformation and educating users. Since then, our mission has grown to reach thousands of people who are now better equipped to fight back against online fraud and disinformation.
Here is one of the first posts from 2011, where I warned about a Farmville fake.

Online Violence: The Dark Side of Communication
My journey through the Internet has opened my eyes to a sad and frightening truth: that words can become weapons, sharp and cutting, ready to penetrate deep into the souls of their victims. Comments and messages, thoughtless or deliberately aggressive, can hurt, isolate and humiliate people. I have seen the hatred and malice that hides behind the comments and messages. It was shocking to see the lengths people will go to to express their hatred and aggression.
The anonymity of the Internet creates an illusion of invulnerability, a false security that makes us forget that there are real people behind the screens. With every hateful word we speak, with every negative action we commit, we hurt real people. And in doing so we also lose a piece of our own humanity.
The human dimension of the Internet
The anonymity of the Internet gives many a feeling of invulnerability. But behind every avatar, behind every username, there is a real person with feelings, hopes and fears. This is the human dimension of the Internet that we too often forget: that behind every screen presence beats a real heart, a soul that feels and suffers, laughs and cries.
When we forget this, we dehumanize each other. We reduce each other to mere screen names, to anonymous, faceless beings without feelings or emotions. In this process we lose respect for human dignity, we lose the empathy that characterizes us as human beings.
The power of community
But in all this darkness I also saw light. Light in the form of people who do not remain silent, who stand up and speak out against hatred and intolerance. People committed to a more respectful and safe online space. These people are beacons of hope, they are role models who show that we can talk to each other without hurting or insulting each other.
These people are proof that the internet can also be a place of kindness, compassion and humanity. Their voices remind us that the Internet can be more than a place of hate and aggression. It can be a place where we strengthen and support each other, where we build communities based on understanding and respect.
Our responsibility
The responsibility to make the Internet a better place lies with all of us. It begins with ourselves: with our language, our patience and our willingness to respect others even when we disagree with them. It's about promoting a culture of kindness and respect, a culture based on understanding and compassion rather than hatred and aggression.
This is not an easy task, but a necessary one. It requires courage, persistence and determination. It requires us to constantly question ourselves, to strive to be better, to be kinder, to be more respectful. It requires us to celebrate our differences rather than fear them. It requires us to stand up for everyone's right to safety and respect online.
An optimistic outlook
I firmly believe that we can overcome this challenge. I've seen what the internet can be when we make it a place that enriches, inspires, and brings us together, rather than dividing and dividing us. A place where our dignity and respect are preserved and valued. A place that brings out the best in us.
Let’s shape this place together. Each of us can and should contribute to this. Because the Internet belongs to all of us. It is our home, our community, our meeting place. It is a place where we can express, learn, grow and connect. It is a place that has the potential to bring out the best in us, uplift us and bring us closer to one another. Let's take advantage of this opportunity. Let us work together to create an Internet that strengthens us and does not weaken us, that connects us and does not divide us, that inspires us and does not discourage us.
Because at the end of the day, the Internet is not just a network of computers. It is a network of people. And it's up to us what we make of it.
Now 3 more questions from me to you:
- Do you want to live in an online world that is safe, respectful and free of hate?
- Would you like more transparency and education about the threats and scams lurking online?
- Are you ready to contribute and support us so we can continue our important work and promote a positive, safe online experience for everyone?
Also read: Digital echo chambers: Are we getting lost in the maelstrom of modernity?
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

