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