Abstract: Socials, politics, and economics shapes every upcoming generation of teens. Today’s teens (iGen) are no different. They are considered to be “the first generations whose lives are saturated by mobile technology and social media” (Divecha, 2017). But why is social media such a significant aspect of their lives, and how does one escape the “real world” through anonymous posts and comments?
Anonymity helps create a new world for younger generations with the help of Webpages and apps, which allow users to forget about social standards. Mental health concerning social media is a significant contributor to why anonymity is so popular. This has led to websites being created to help users stay anonymous by creating a platform on which users can share and view comments, stories, or pictures that other anonymous profiles post. Having a profile and having to keep up appearances on apps such as Facebook or Instagram can be tiering since maintaining these profiles is constant and continuous work. Although anonymity has many positive attributes there are still negative aspects to being able to act without consequences. Although one might fear not knowing the person is behind the screen there are websites dedicated to creating a safe and fun environment for anonymous users. By implementing filters and programs to help keep a positive environment for anonymous profiles, businesses create an escape for online users.
Body
“iGen” is a name created by author Jean Twenge to describe the generation born between 1995 and 2012. The name derives from their constant use of mobile devices, individualism as well as their focus on income and inclusiveness, as mentioned in a journal article by Diana Divecha (2017). Divecha states that iGen’s are found to have “poorer emotional health thanks to new media”. She bases her finding on the book written by author Jean Twenge, who claims that the increase in loneliness, anxiousness, and depression is a result of new media, which undermines their social skills.
However, the effects can be remedied using the same technology which caused these side effects in the first place. Various agencies have been created to provide channels to help younger generations to raise concerns regarding their mental health.
Besty is an example of a platform created to assist teens to connect with friends and strangers and create a positive, fun, and friendly environment (Normans Media Ltd, 2018). Its concept is for users to anonymously tag others in posts, and send social greetings while also connecting with new and existing friends. Betsy allows the user to choose between anonymity or whether they want their person to be shared. This allows users to move around the app more freely and not have to be constantly aware of what others may think of one’s self. Most would start to doubt this app seeing as people are able to post and comment freely without any percussions. However, Betsy has been modified to filter negative comments out with the help of an automated moderator (Normand Media Ltd, 2018).
But the question remains why users feel the need to roam social media anonymously. According to the Straits Times (2021), young people have expressed a preference for anonymity. When raising concerns, especially related to mental health, the youth today is afraid of a certain stigma that comes with expressing their struggles. Modern social media has made it easy for people to join media platforms without having to reveal personal details about themselves. One can easily create an account without having to provide so much as a name. And although this may raise concerns regarding the trustworthiness of accounts that one might encounter, it also lets users escape their day-to-day lives. By not having to keep up a certain societal perception of themselves. Users are able to create a utopia online. This is possible not only by presenting themselves as an altered version but also by managing their online world to fit specifically to their preferences. Users can clear posts, blogs, and news with a click of a button.
Keeping up a social presence especially related to oneself can be tasking on anyone since it requires constant attention and work. Seeing as today’s generation is required to uphold a social presence on multiple platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter it may lead to the maintenance feeling like a second job (Wu, 2014). This makes the presence of anonymity on social media even more enticing since it cuts users loose of an image to maintain.
Another two apps are presented by Tim Wu (2014) that offer users to speak out anonymously. Secret and Whisper are two apps used to spread information and stories anonymously to a broad following for anyone to read. It allows users to escape from the so-called “real world”, and experience stories that deem as a distraction from what their lives offer them. In Addition, to these two apps, Wu (2014) also mentions Reddit as an alternative. Reddit is a platform on which one is able to access a web-based platform on which one can choose specific topics. These are also known as Subreddits. Its popularity is a result of its information on nearly any topic and is considered a high-quality user-generated webpage (Du et al, 2020).
An important aspect of anonymity is presented by Wu (2014). This is that posting on websites about your personal experiences or stories is not always happy. Stories shared are usually more interesting when dealing with dramatic or even negative experiences in life. Along with those experiences, it is easy to share comments that most would not release in the real world. Comments that they wouldn’t want to stick to their real selves when presented in society. Comments range from complaints about colleagues to confessions about one’s mental state. Wu makes a strong point by admitting that even though these little insignificant comments make up a large part of anonymity, a lot of the content posted is regarded as an expression of emotion. These emotions might not carry the weight of sinful secrets. But to the individual user, these emotions might be the hardest to share. For most, it is the expression of vanity, chastity, anxiety, or even weakness that makes sharing things anonymously of importance.
The anonymity concept mentioned so far is not of recent years, it is far from a new concept. Back in the 80s and 90s being anonymous had its benefits in many ways. Whether trying to present yourself differently from how people perceived you. Or allowing you to let out anger and hate that most would judge you for if spoken out loud. This hate and anger, however, started spreading across the web and turned many people off using chat rooms or posting on websites. The fear of falling victim to hate and judgment caused a decrease in the number of users (Wu, 2014). This presents one of the biggest issues when discussing the topic of anonymity. Although it creates an escape for users, it is often misused and helps spread hate to unsuspecting people. Priorities should be set on educating younger generations. The iGen should be taught cyber behaviors and what to do when faced with trolls or negativity.
Anonymity should still be encouraged since there are positive results of younger users partaking in anonymous web pages and apps. However, sites such as Secret and Wish use trolls and hate as motivation to uphold their good reputation and keep their brand image alive. They make it a mission to eliminate all traces of negativity within their websites. This shows people that although the internet can be scary, dangerous, and filled with people with the intention to hurt others, there is a positive space you can interact with others without the worry of experiencing any negativity. Websites exist because they want to introduce people to a positive environment and help them share their stories.
Conclusion
To conclude, anonymity has created an escape for younger generations who struggle with their mental health influenced by social media. They use anonymous profiles to share and view stories that might make their time behind the screen feel like a break from the real world. With the help of websites and apps programmed to provide a safe and fun environment for users, it has become easier for people to access and participate in sharing stories, comments, and ideas.
Anonymity helps the younger generation today express feelings and emotions they might not feel comfortable sharing with others face-to-face. It helps connects them with other people dealing with similar experiences and interests by connecting them to similar topics over the apps and websites used. Sites such as Besty, Secret, Whisper, and Reddit help create an environment for users to be themselves and participate without any repercussions. Although this may allow entry for trolls and hate comments these sites have put filters and programs into place to help filter out any negative comments and keep the environment a safe and positive space.
There will always be a demand for anonymity and places in which people can connect anonymously, so websites that prioritize keeping spaces that fit these requirements open are on the right track and have a bright and successful future ahead of them.
Citations
Chris D., Wai L., Dena M., Alvaro L., & Kathleen C. K. (2020). I leaked, then I Reddit: experiences and insight shared on urinary incontinence by Reddit users. International Urogynecology journal.
DOI: 10.1007/s00192-019-04165-8 https://www.proquest.com/docview/2354609044/D14CE17E0C47400APQ/1?accountid=10382
Diana, D. (2017). How Teens Today Are Different from Past Generations. Parenting & Family. How Teens Today Are Different from Past Generations (berkeley.edu)
Goh Ya, H. (2021). Agencies go digital to help youth with mental health issues. The Straits Times: Singapore. ProQuestDocuments-2022-03-29 (1).pdf
James, P. (2021). Social media companies could soon be forced to end anonymity for online trolls. But will this stop the trolling? ABC Science Online: Ultimo.
ProQuestDocuments-2022-03-29.pdf
Normans Media Ltd. (NMLtd, 2018). Positive anonymity for Generation Z and Millennials – Connecting Can Be Fun! M2 Presswire; Coventry. ProQuestDocuments-2022-03-30.pdf
Tim, W. (2014). Lookout: The Intimacy of Anonymity. New York Times. LOOKOUT_THE_INTIMACY_OF_MARK.pdf
I enjoyed your paper very much, Emmelie. Loved the idea that maintaining one’s online presence was a “2nd job”. Like every mass communications technology, this iteration is a double-edged sword. You gave me pause to think about anonymity. We seem to be struggling, as a society, with ideas about authenticity versus an individual’s rights and needs. I sit in a fascinating position: as a GenXer, my life is neatly divided into BC (before computers) and AD (after the death of phone boxes). And I have raised a son and daughter, now in their 20s, in this extraordinary world. I have often remarked that I am glad I didn’t grow up with all of this technology, devices, interconnectivity. You might be interested in my paper: https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2022/ioa/300/me-2-0-the-ability-for-individuals-to-perform-multiple-selves-online-allows-greater-freedom-than-ever-to-explore-their-identity-at-a-cost/ I look forward to your comments.
Thank you Brendan,
I am glad this article gave you some insight on the topic. I value your opinion even more now since you are a parent and know the dangers and experience the fear of exposing your children to the internet that you know might not be safe. I find it admirable that you are so open-minded to the concept of anonymity and understand why you would miss the times before social media became such a large part of our lives. In a way, I am envious of you. Since I only spend the earlier part of my childhood with limited technology I fear that I might have missed out on a different life without the pressures of social media. However, I try to focus on the positive aspects of what technology has to offer us.
I look forward to reading your article.
Hi Emmelie,
I really enjoyed your article, very interesting topic.
I can understand people using anonymity to share their thoughts on the internet, as I have tried this method to vent my emotions. Speaking on anonymous platforms is a way to vent your feelings in a way that protects your privacy.
However, I also find that there is too much negative content on anonymous platforms like Secret, and the fact that people read these posts adds to people’s anxiety to a certain extent, so I think it is important for these anonymous platforms to regulate the content of their posts.
Hello Shining Chen,
Thank you for your input and comment on my article.
I appreciate your involvement with the topic and completely understand where your point is coming from.
When writing this essay I had initially decided to base my discussion on the negative aspects of anonymity, since that is often what people associate it with. But when doing my research I noticed that there were a lot of positive aspects to anonymously posting and communicating online.
I tried to include concerns most might have with anonymity in the essay but I also wanted to educate others on what positives can come from not sharing a profile and personal information.
Hi Emmelie,
Your paper was very interesting. I understand that anonymity is a very important affordance for individuals nowadays as they can post things without their names attached to their posts. This can consequently reduce the stress of sharing personal information. However, I think that full anonymity can also be bad due to the ability to interact with strangers online. It is difficult to determine whether the identity of the person you are sharing this information with, is fabricated or not. Could it possibly pose more danger than good?
Hi Erica,
Thank you for your question. I understand where you’re concern is coming from and agree that a fabricated identity online might be a scary thing. However, not all accounts are created with a sinister intent behind them. Yes, most incidents we hear of are accounts used to cause harm but I’d like to pay attention to the accounts created to help users express themselves more freely and without judgment. I think more people should hear about the good that anonymous accounts can achieve and how people’s lives can be impacted in a positive way.
I do have to point out that there is difficulty in determining which accounts are “good anonymous accounts”. No one knows the other until they get in contact with one another. The only advice I could give others is that you should keep things lighthearted when communicating with an account you aren’t familiar with. Don’t go out looking for romantic or personal attachments. This is something you can only be certain of when meeting face to face.
Regards,
Emmelie
Hi Emmelie, this was a great read! I didn’t know that the term iGen was aching to define that generation, very interesting! I personally find using the internet anonymously is far more enjoyable as I don’t have to worry about how others perceive me, most of my social media account are private and I find that on my public accounts I really have to think about what I’m posting and who will see it. I remember apps like whisper were really popular when I was in middle school, I think there was an intrigue into meeting new people online while not having to share who you really were or any personal details.
Hello Elenor,
I appreciate your input. You are the first to address how anonymity has affected you personally. I am glad to hear that you have found a positive personal experience with creating and using social media with a more private approach and I have to admit that I am the same. When posting I have to consider who is able to see and access these posts. There are always dangers out there but we have to make sure that we take the right precautions to keep ourselves and others safe.
Hi Emmelie,
What an interesting topic you have presented! After reading the title of you paper i was automatically interested as the majority of ideas/opinions focused around the topic of anonymity online is often negative and i love how you were able to shed light on the positive impact such platforms are having!
Being an avid social media user myself, i definitely agree with you when you mention that keeping appearances and maintaining profiles on social media apps (especially Instagram) is highly time consuming and also requires continuous effort. I can see how individuals could feel ‘safer’ and free in a sense when using anonymous online spaces like Besty to interact and connect with other anonymous profiles. However, i still question how individuals can tell if identities on these platforms are real or ‘made up’ (e.g., trolls, people saying they’re a certain age/gender/identity when they in fact aren’t, etc). In theory, you really could be talking to anyone. I also wonder if platforms like this would potentially ‘draw in’ online predators due to 1. the ability to stay and remain anonymous (like everyone else) and 2. that these platforms would almost appeal to or draw in more vulnerable audiences that feel they need to share/open up about personal struggles or talk about topics that are sensitive and might otherwise cause judgement. I feel that this affordance of remaining anonymous would make it easier for online predators to reach and take advantage of these more vulnerable audiences located on these platforms. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this!
A very well written paper! Thanks again for such an interesting read – well done!
Thank you Siena,
I completely understand where you’re coming from when you say that preditors might take advantage of users who might be trying to express intimate and private information online through an anonymous profile. The only safe option, in this case, would be to educate users on how to treat and behave toward others when on social platforms. I think it is important not to use the internet as a place to try and find intimate connections with others. More often than not users are looking for personal connections with others and the easiest way to do so is to try and find others on the internet. We won’t ever be able to stop them from doing so. But by educating them on the dangers and if websites and apps take the right precautions we might be able to limit the dangers that might occur.
We have to face that there will always be people who seek out negative influence on others but by keeping an eye out and by warning and teaching unsuspecting users we might be able to limit the amount of damage that might come with suing platforms.
All in all, it is important for users to have this kind of escape from the real world and I feel like it is important for them to have the option of keeping their personal information anonymous.
Kind regards,
Emmelie
Hie Emmelie.
Yo raised an interesting topic there and I strongly agree with you. In as much as there are negative effects in using anonymous accounts, I would like to believe that there are times they save us from the dangers of the internet. Especially when dealing with confidential issues which might sometimes bring stigmatization or harmful consequences to one it is very important to use pseudo names and of course the pressure that comes with keeping up our web presence is not worth the time it costs us. You might be also interested in reading my paper as it highlights how pseudo names are used in protests, and how effective they are.
https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2022/ioa/956/social-media-platforms-a-space-for-political-protests-in-zimbabwe-a-case-study-of-the-zimbabweanlivesmatter-movement/
Hi Emmelie,
Your paper was very well written. I agree that anonymity is an important factor on social media for people who would prefer to keep their true identities hidden. As long as their online identity doesn’t hurt another person, it is completely within acceptance. But you can’t ignore the fact that many people take advantage of such freedom. In my paper, I discuss how online anonymity has been used by catfish to lure in victims. Catfishing is quite a common occurrence today, considering how the entire world now revolves around social media, even more so post-pandemic. So, do you really think that the positives of online anonymity outweigh the negatives, or do they co-exist equally?
If you would like, you could read my paper here,
https://networkconference.netstudies.org/2022/ioa/445/the-dark-side-of-online-anonymity/#comment-1517
Hi Serena,
thank you for leaving a message.
I have spent some time reading your article and I am very impressed with how you portrayed anonymity in a negative light.
I completely agree with your statement that having a secret identity, and possibly a false identity, is often a scary and dangerous act.
When writing my article it was hard to stay focused on the positive aspects of anonymity since the world is often more intrigued by the negative outcomes of such instances.
To your question of whether I think the positives of anonymity outweigh the negative: I would have to say I don’t think there are nearly enough positive aspects to the matter to support the act. However, no one is capable of stopping users from creating anonymous accounts, and therefore we must take action on trying to minimize the dangers. These actions could be educating users (especially young users) on the dangers of anonymous and potential false accounts and teaching them how to act when confronted with certain dangerous situations.
Regards,
Emmelie