Pseudonyms

The use of pseudonyms should be acceptable on most online websites. Every person has the right to express their personal opinions freely and using a pseudonym could be the only safe and logical way to do this online. The risks of not allowing pseudonyms online greatly outweigh the risks of allowing them. Banning pseudonyms puts many people at risk such as police officers and government workers, these workers should have the right to use a social media site just as any other person does with having to risk their jobs, lives and families lives. My father is the perfect example of this; he was a police officer in Northern Ireland for years before retiring and was not allowed to use Facebook to protect himself, our family and his job. Many criminals know police officers legal names and will use social media sites to track them down, find information about them and use it against them in negative ways. I believe that the use of a pseudonym is safer than potential criminals being aware of police officers locations and family lives.

Pseudonyms also protect people with non government jobs who just want to express their opinion freely without being harassed or have their lives put in danger. Many people anonymously post about their religion or disagreements they face with culture and laws so that they are not putting themselves or close relatives in danger. I believe that with the technology we have today pseudonyms should be allowed as people who are anonymously putting others at risk should be easy enough to track down and take action on.