Anonymity
Online Disinhibition Effect
-Definition: a lowering of behavioral inhibitions in the online environment -Concept: refers to the negative results of this loss of inhibitions, usually manifested in aggressive behaviors that apparently would not be exhibited in a similar scenario in the "real world"
What did they Want to Know?
-Which of the following behaviors lead to toxic disinhibition online (flaming)? --anonymity --lack of eye contact --invisibility
Most vulnerable people are far less safe when identifiable
-a dissident who fears imprisonment, torture or death -a gay teen who wants to reach out online without fear of their family finding out -a whistleblower who fears retribution -a person of faith who could be subject to religious persecution -a battered wife seeking shelter -a parent who wants their child to navigate safely online
Invisibility
-a form of social presence that is defined as the degree of perception, awareness, recognition or acknowledgement of others
Defining Anonymity Online
-an anonymous action is not linkable to someone's identity -two anonymous actions by the same person are not linked to each other -"Non-identifiably by virtue of non-linkability"
Queens U Compliments
-an online FB page that allows students across campus to post anonymous compliments and words of support to one another -aimed to stop cyber bullying and increase mental health
Study (Lipidot-Lefler & Barak)
-distinguish between unidentifiablity and identifiablity -*Unidentifiability*: more than being nameless; lack of identifying personal details such as age, ethnicity, occupation, etc -*Identifiability*: affects one's own behaviors and feelings
Findings
-eye contact has a significant effect on negative online disinhibition -when eye contact was enforced, participants experienced fewer occurrences of flaming and fewer threats -anonymity has a significant effect on threats
Facebook's Perspective
-having two identities of yourself shows lack of integrity -do not believe in anonymity -meant for actually connecting with people -also a safety concern
The Curse
-human lives at risk -online anonymity more difficult to achieve due to a fixed user identity ecosystem
Toxic Disinhibition
-online flaming and acting out behaviors that often involve damaging the others or even one's own self image
The "Civilizing Effect" of Real Name
-people behave a lot better when they have their real names down
Method
-presented a dilemma to debate in dyads through online chat -aliases, personal identifiers, web cam, no we cam were all variables tested -wanted to create conflict so that participant had to choose to respond in a negative or positive way
Insights
-the power to speak -anonymity instrumental in organizing protest -human lives at risk
Flaming
-the use of hostile expressions towards others in online communication
The Good
-when used wholesomely, the effects are extraordinary; especially when in contrast to cyber bullying