How Trying To Be Anonymous Online Can Hurt You And Others

Mari Smith, John Reese and The Washington Post all caught my attention this week, and all for a similar reason.

That reason is the online identity or persona of people using the internet, and how they conduct themselves.

Mari talks about people using their photograph on Facebook (and by default other social networking websites).

This is the post that I have been meaning to write for a while, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to do the topic justice the way Mari has.

If you’re still using an avatar or icon for your profile picture, you need to get yourself over here to see why you need to build a whole new image!

John Reese talks about the death of anonymous marketing, and why marketers and people doing business online need to be open about who they are.

Like Mari, John is upfront about people being themselves, and not hiding behind a ‘User Name’.

Expecting people to do business with you while not divulging who you are really doesn’t make sense.

I can walk into the local butcher shop and see Andy, or the local drugstore and talk to Angela face to face, so why is it such a hassle online?

Worried about privacy? You’re the captain of your ship, and it it is up to you how close you allow others to see into your life.

If I see local store owner Geoff, all I need to know is that he has some great deals, is polite, honest and friendly.

With a bit of care and effort, it can be done online as well.

Have a look at John’s post now!

This article about The Washington Post is also about openness, but this one has stirred up a veritable hornets’ nest, being all about privacy and civil liberties!

The debate again centers on accountability, and the use of user names instead of having people identify themselves.

This is a hard one though, because the means of identification mentioned are the use of credit cards and/or drivers’ license numbers!

Definitely not a debate for the faint hearted, but a debate that responsible netizens really need to have.

It is important for people to be able to voice their opinion, but then, is it fair that they are able to remain anonymous?

On your site, do you allow people to voice an opinion without revealing who they are?

And what do you do if they are commenting, and you know for a fact that they are not who they say they are?

So where do you stand? Are you still back in the nineties using usernames and smiley faces, or have you been able to embrace Web 2.0 to the point of allowing people to take a peek at just who you are?

Your feedback is both invited, and welcome!