Should There Be Anonymity On Social Media Platforms?
This is a question that is getting a lot of attention right now, ever since Elon Musk suggested that Twitter verification would be something anyone willing to pay for it could have. It’s an interesting debatable topic.
Jordan Peterson is getting some backlash for suggesting that anonymous commenters not be allowed on YouTube. Check this out. He recently asked people to participate in this Twitter poll:
As of this writing, the majority of folks disagree with his statement. He went further, saying:
It’s a fascinating discussion, really.
I tend to believe it’s completely fine for people to have anonymity on line. Daisy and I did for quite a few years when we first started this site. There were two primary reasons for that. First, we wanted to be somewhat shielded from insane lunatics who might wish us harm. But also, we were both working corporate jobs and did not want there to be any possible way for people to link our words to our employers’ official positions on anything.
After a few years, once Facebook censored us (for the first time) in early 2013, we decided it was worth the risk of BOTH of those things happening to make sure that social media censorship news got out to the world. And that’s when we went public with our real names.
But I still think it’s ok to have anonymity online. What I DON’T think is ok is for there to be zillions of bots spreading propaganda. Which is why I answered Scott Adams’ question like this:
I’m not suggesting that’s the perfect solution or that it’s the only right one. But I sure think it would help. What are your thoughts? Please poke holes in my suggestion – I’m curious to know why it might not work!
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8 Comments
I prefer that at least one person in my life does not know what I am posting online as it saves me from sever beatings. (O.K. sometimes those are fun, but I digress.)
Thinking about this and I’ve managed to draw a decent parallel: Gun Control.
These are tools being used by people who are causing problems, not the inherent problem.
I like the Mock solution. I’ve been targeted by crazy leftists who indeed try to ruin people’s lives because they don’t like an opposing viewpoint. Also, it should always be easy to block other users if you don’t like the trolls.
It will be conservatives hurt more by loss of anonymity than anybody else. When you can get fired for just saying you support traditional marriage, you either have to have anonymity or you have to censor yourself.
In addition, “social media” covers a lot of things. What may not be appropriate for Facebook may be perfectly appropriate for a small web page or mailing list. I host an invitation-only discussion list for traditionalist professionals who are afraid to discuss their concerns and beliefs in the open. The list is explicitly anonymized so that it is not possible to cancel a discussant if some woke fascist gets a copy of a post.
Not all bots are the bad guys. Some are just putting forth information that can easily be automated for public consumption. We are currently in an information war that is creating increasing intelligent AI systems. I don’t want to see Twitter be the reason why we suddenly have Skynet.
Yeah. I definitely agree that people should show some kind of proof that they are a human being. However I’m ok with that human being using a fake name.
Honestly, your suggestion is brilliant and very easily done imo.
I read through a lot of the Twitter feed and my mind is blown! Honestly it is an incredible platform where ordinary people like us can debate a mind like Jordan Peterson.
By assuring the commenter is a real person, your suggestion would keep this town hall open.
Mock, Some level of anonymity is okay. Here is one example. My son and I have the same name. On Facebook, though our two accounts had different spelling of our first name, I almost got my son removed from the local fire department as the chief attributed my comments on a local issue to my son. A common friend who was in the chief’s office was able to clear things up. Since the day I changed my username to something else. My son’s name recognition was more important. I know this is minor., but it no one can find “me” on facebook.