Privacy and Anonymity

A Case for Pseudonyms

     Jillian C. York brought forth many great points about the benefits and risks to using a pseudonym while operating online. The use of pseudonyms is a grey area that does not have a straightforward, yes or no answer. Pseudonyms allow writers to express feelings and raise awareness about issues that may cause harm to their personal lives and/or result in federal punishments; but can also allow people to hide their identity's in order to cause harm to others via an online mask.

  Using real names online has its benefits as pointed out in the article. When users are required to use their real names, the perceived atmosphere of the site and user changes. I believe that an individual using their real name is more open and trustworthy than those who feel the need to hide behind a pseudonym. Their ethos is positive and one may take their opinions more seriously than someone who cannot give you their real name. Once I see a username that is obviously not real, I begin to question this person's honesty and reliability. However, determining if an individual is really who they say they are, when usernames do not allow for easy detection, is increasingly difficult. An example of this is online dating; you hear stories on the news about individuals who traveled to meet the person they have been talking to online, only to find out that they are not who they say they are.

http://www.assyriancupid.com/dating_articles/Safety/online-dating-scams-6.aspx

   In the article, York points out a specific incidence in which a pseudonym started a revolution.

Had this individual been unable to express what he was seeing and experiencing, many citizens would not have joined the cause. Depending on what side of the revolution you are on, this can be positive or negative. I believe that providing information to people on both sides of events is important to allow individuals to make educated decisions. In this case, allowing Wael Ghonim to write under an alias provided citizens and global witnesses with a different, unfiltered side. This man, by writing the truth, helped the revolution gain strength and change was brought to Egypt and surrounding areas. A negative point is pointed out in that when an individual has committed a crime or needs to be found, pseudonyms hinder the search to apprehend them. 

   

   A reoccurring story has been that of cyber bullying. In some cases the victims are attacked by peers that they know and can recognize by their usernames and can then take action. It is also common to be attacked by those who appear to be strangers. When being attacked by anonymous users or those using a pseudonym, victims have no idea where the attacks are coming from and finding these individuals is difficult. When victims feel like not only 

their immediate peers are bullying them but also complete strangers who don't even know them, a victim can feel helpless. Wouldn't you if strangers you didn't even know were judging you and pointing out your insecurities?

http://www.e-know.ca/regions/cranbrook/cranbrook-cfuw-hosts-cyber-bullying-lecture-by-rcmp-constable/

http://jezebel.com/5951520/amanda-todds-mother-plans-to-educate-other-parents-on-cyber+bullying

This constant back and forth makes it difficult for one to say that anonymity is all good or all bad.