“Others seek the benefits of anonymity: the ability to antagonize, prank, and generally act out without facing the consequences, without those actions being attached to one’s real-life identity.”
Anonymity carries risks and danger. If one is to assume that their actions aren’t attached to their real-life identity, how is this handled with issues of online crime and crime organization? There have been multiple instances when anonymity has led to consequences involving threats within the internet community or targeted at a certain individual. At what point can anonymity be controlled?
“On these sites, participants frequently used pseudonyms or otherwise veiled their identities, which allowed them to build reputations and personal linkages based solely around their online presence.”
Apart from the online culture of anonymity surrounded around websites such as 4chan, I think this quote speaks volumes about the power that the internet has in terms of building reputation. We spoke earlier this semester about the suggested importance of the internet for graphic design students in general, and how having your own website seems to be a requirement in today’s society. Is it possible to make a name for yourself without having an online presence?