What are the pros and cons of anonymity on the internet?

What is the advantage of anonymous?

To avoid social stigma

We live in a society that places value on individual expression.

We want to be ourselves. No one likes to feel ashamed or embarrassed. This is why we prefer to show our identity in a public setting.

But there's a problem with that. Social stigma is a powerful force. One that causes people to lose jobs, lose friendships, and even lose family members over matters of identity. When you publicly identify as gay, for example, people may not want to be your friend anymore. And if you publicly identify as transgender, people may not want to be your friend.

Anonymity, on the other hand, gives people a safe space to explore their identity. It allows them to develop relationships without fear of judgment or scorn. And sometimes, people are more comfortable in that environment.

For this reason, there's a growing trend of adopting anonymous username and password for online identity. And the best part is that, there's no reason you can't do the same.

What is anonymous identity? Anonymity is a little like a double-edged sword. It gives you a lot of freedom, but it also hides your true identity. In some ways, it's almost like a secret identity.

Here's how it works: You identify yourself online as John Doe. John is a pseudonym, a made up name that allows you to use this account without revealing your real name. John posts on a website, and he's an active user. John uses anonymous username and password. You try to figure out who John is. Let's say you have an active interest in John. Maybe you want to interact with him, or maybe you just want to follow him online. Regardless, you need to know who John is.

To figure out who John is, you need to use the information available. And there's only one way to get that information: Google.

It's a simple equation. So let's say you take an active interest in John. If you spend any time searching John's online activity, it's likely that you'll find something interesting.

But here's the catch.

What are the benefits of anonymity on social media?

I read this piece by a friend of mine (thank you, John) called 'The advantages of anonymity on social media' and it got me thinking about anonymity and the effect it can have on a user's experience online. In John's article he mentions one of the most powerful advantages of anonymity, namely it frees you to express thoughts and opinions without fear of reprisal.

In many cases anonymity is a good thing, like when someone wants to discuss something or give an opinion on some issue but feels a little nervous about how that might be received. Some people are also put off joining online communities because they feel ashamed of their appearance, as opposed to discussing the content. Some people just feel more comfortable anonymously discussing something in the real world than online. This is where anonymity can really help a person to explore their opinion, ideas and even thoughts.

The fact is that, if you don't want to feel ashamed for what you're thinking and writing, and if you don't want people to think you're a 'slut', 'moron' or 'idiot' (even if you're neither of these things), then you need to learn how to use social media safely, and that includes using it without your real name. So why is anonymity such a big deal? Firstly, if you are sharing personal thoughts, photos or video, which may reveal who you are or where you come from, you are putting yourself in a potentially risky situation. You'll know that you can't be identified, but your identity will still be out there. So, if you wish to protect your privacy, you need to be sure you're only sharing with people you trust.

But what about those instances when you don't care if your identity is revealed, but you're still concerned about other things, like whether people will agree with what you have to say? Well, you probably want to know this: If I tell you not to share your opinions, will you listen? Let's do some simple maths. You, as an individual, have the potential to earn more than 50,000 per year.