Difference between revisions of "Anonymous Online Presence and Harassment"

Revision as of 19:13, 25 January 2022

The option to remain anonymous is a prevalent feature in information technology and online platforms. Anonymity is commonly associated with namelessness, detachment, and lack of recognition. Anonymity is defined as a state of being unidentifiable by others due to a lack of coordination between known and unknown trait(s) that an individual possesses ^[1]. Each trait is a part of a collection of unique interconnected traits that make up one’s identity. The disunion of these identifying attributes allow an individual to remain unknown.

For example, platforms such as Reddit.com structure user accounts to have pseudonyms or fictitious names that mask identity^[2]. Anonymity can result in positive outcomes such as supporting free expression, however it also cultivates an environment of negativity, harassment, and ethical implications.

Reasons for Anonymity Online

While there are many reasons an individual may want to remain anonymous online some include free self expression without identification, avoiding consequences as a result of questionable actions, minimizing discrimination, and privacy. These reasons may overlap and are not mutually exclusive. In all these cases anonymity serves as a form of protection from a potential repercussion. The nature of anonymity allows behavior online that can potentially be positive, negative, or neutral.

Positive Examples of Online Anonymity

Virtual Support Groups

Individuals experiencing hardship or trauma may seek support groups and community to heal. Online platforms and technology provide people with quick and convenient access to a variety of online communities where they can connect with others. For example, a sexual abuse survivor may choose to refrain from revealing their identity due to the responses they could receive for revealing sensitive information. A common feature on these platforms is the ability of others to comment and interact with posted content. The context of a sexual abuse post may elicit different types of responses. The victim is able to protect their mental health and well being by using anonymity as a shield. In this case anonymity is fostering a supportive environment for a socially stigmatized topic^[3].

Soliciting Honest Feedback in the Workplace

In the workplace environment it can be difficult for managers to solicit honest feedback from employees. Employees may be concerned with job security and potential backlash for pointing out a workplace concern. A 2019 study, resulted in many respondents advocating for anonymous input in order for leaders to receive legitimate feedback. In this particular study, the feedback was often in the form of an anonymous survey and online portal for the company. Employees felt they had a voice and one respondent explained how anonymity eliminated the fear of repercussions ^[4].

Product and Service Customer Reviews

Shopping websites, customer review websites, discussion pages, and blogs allow people on the internet to share opinions about products, services and experiences electronically. Reviews have become an integral part to inform potential buyers about quality, accuracy, and performance of products and services, especially in e-commerce. For example, shoppers at Amazon.com heavily rely on reviews to make good purchases. In general, reviews from customers are more trusted than the marketing done by the company selling the product or service. Customers are encouraged and incentivized to add more reviews to Amazon.com to improve the shopping experience for all customers. Soon after making a purchase through Amazon, customers are sent a reminder to write a review for their recent purchase. The option to give anonymous reviews is considered an important element in increasing the number of reviews^[5]. Users feel more comfortable being honest when unidentifiable.

Negative Examples of Online Anonymity

Disinformation and Fake News

Disinformation is the intentional spread of inaccurate information. Disinformation is a big concern because it can be harmful and discredit news media, and journalism on a large scale. It also has the potential to disrupt democracy and alter the communities views and perspectives. Many platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook allow users to share visual content such as photos and videos. Misleading visual content is dangerous due to its ability to persuade viewers of its credibility. The account creation process does not prohibit users from creating inaccurate personas and accounts. Using anonymity and misconstruing the identity of the account owner can pose a threat to transparency on online platforms. Actors are able to easily manipulate visual content and achieve their intended goal when the audience takes information out of context. Once the inaccurate information is released, social media makes it easy to reshare and repost deceitful content unknowingly. This behavior leads to misinformation, unintentional presentation of falsity as truth. The complexity of artificial intelligence (AI) allows for completely fabricated content to be made. For example, there is apparently video evidence of Obama referring to Trump as a "dipshit"^[6]. It was discovered that the video was a deep fake and product of AI. Deep fakes and cheap fakes have become increasingly relevant in the technological sphere and are weapons for disinformation.

The Dark Net and Criminal Activity

The internet is a popular place for extremists groups to reside. It is beneficial for these extremist groups to remain anonymous to exist in spaces where other may disagree with their ideals. Websites, social media, and the Dark net are easily accessible from everywhere and allow postings, sharing of messages, and more. For this reason there has been a large migration of extremists into cyberspace, especially platforms such as TikTok. TikTok is an online platform for video sharing and is most commonly used for comedy, dancing, and singing. However in late 2019, ISIS content that aimed to recruit people was discovered on the platform. There were reports of content praising militants incorporating TikTok filters and trendy emojis. Additionally, there were reports of Nazism and violent white supremacy that advocated for murders of ethnic minorities^[7]. There continues to be a plethora of politically charged content finding its way onto platforms that were intended for a much lighter purpose. Extremists and actors have found a way to take advantage of the features associated with social media sights such as background music, emojis, hashtags, tagging, reshares, and more. An important concern considered is the age of the TikTok audience. The app targets younger adults and teenagers, whom can be susceptible to propaganda and sensitive content.

Ethical Implications

Online Harassment

Hate Comments

Cyberbullying

Stalking

Accountability

References

1. ↑ Wallace, Kathleen A. (2018). Online Anonymity. In Himma and Tavani, pp. 165-190.
2. ↑ Massanari, Adrienne. (2015). #Gamergate and The Fappening: How Reddit’s Algorithm, Governance, and Culture Support Toxic Technocultures. New Media & Society 19 (3): 229-46.
3. ↑ Nazanin Andalibi, Oliver L. Haimson, Munmun De Choudhury, and Andrea Forte. 2018. Social Support, Reciprocity, and Anonymity in Responses to Sexual Abuse Disclosures on Social Media. ACM Trans. Comput.-Hum. Interact. 25, 5, Article 28 (October 2018), 35 pages. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1145/3234942.
4. ↑ Cardon, P. W., Huang, Y., & Power, G. (2019). Leadership Communication on Internal Digital Platforms, Emotional Capital, and Corporate Performance: The Case for Leader-Centric Listening. International Journal of Business Communication. https://doi.org/10.1177/2329488419828808.
5. ↑ Ismail Erkan & Chris Evans (2018) Social media or shopping websites? The influence of eWOM on consumers’ online purchase intentions, Journal of Marketing Communications, 24:6, 617-632, DOI: 10.1080/13527266.2016.1184706.
6. ↑ Paris, B. & Donovan, J. (August, 2021). Long on Profit and Years Behind: Platforms and the Fight Against Audiovisual Disinformation. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Special Section: Visual Mis- and Disinformation, Social Media, & Democracy 98 (3), 641 - 664. https://doi.org/10.1177/10776990211035395.
7. ↑ Gabriel Weimann & Natalie Masri (2020) Research Note: Spreading Hate on TikTok, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, DOI: 10.1080/1057610X.2020.1780027.