The Internet Doesn't Make You Anonymous

The Internet is a great communications tool. It lets you maintain easy contact with friends and family across the world. It also provides a forum for free speech on a global level; from the comfort of your living room you can broadcast your opinion for strangers everywhere to see.

I think a lot of people forget that their neighbors can read what they post too.

While the Internet can allow for anonymous posting (leading to many people expressing opinions in a crass manner they would never do in person), I think that a lot of people don't realize that what they say on the Internet can affect their regular, in-person interactions as well. Why?

Facebook and MySpace.

Before the MySpace/Facebook phenomenon took off, people guarded their identities on the Internet more. If you wanted to post your thoughts, you did so under the guise of a clever screen name. But with social networking sites becoming increasingly popular, people are now posting under their real names with pictures of themselves; there is no denying who the individual is.

However, a lot of people seem to think that same anonymity extends to Facebook even though their real name is visible, and quite frankly, it doesn't. It's no secret that a lot of people might talk differently when their parents aren't or are around. Yet I see people using language on Facebook that they wouldn't use in their parents presence, but their Mom is in their Friends list!

I admit there are times I think of posting something involving people I know that might be sensitive and just change the names to protect their identity (as the topic might be something I'd want to explore without the personal bias), but living in a small community it becomes pretty easy to figure out who is being referred to. Therefore I choose not to post about things; I wouldn't discuss the person's private life like that in person, I'm not going to do so on the Internet either.

The ability to express ourselves in an online forum is a form of power, the power of widespread expression. And as dear old Uncle Ben would say, with great power comes great responsibility. Or, if you wouldn't say it in person, don't broadcast it over the Internet.