This week we read and reflected on several articles relating to anonymity. Anonymity is such a powerful tool, especially on the World Wide Web. The internet at this point in time is home to nearly everyone. Given the time of season, it's home to the nice and the naughty. Unfortunately, it seems though as the Naughty list is overwhelmingly larger than the Nice list. On the internet, where anonymity is given, no one knows who you are. Gabriella Coleman, in her article "Anonymity Online Serves Us All", brings up the point that in some forums, people are free to discuss topics she says, "allowing for candid discussions of what might otherwise be stigmatizing subjects".
Yet, there are many users who abuse anonymity, and use it to attack others. Author Kristy Tillman makes it clear who many of these targets are with her article titled, "Women and Minorities as Targets of Attack Online". It seems as though users use their given anonymity to speak out about how they truly feel without any serious consequence. Few individuals who have committed serious hate crimes to other individuals on the internet, such as harassment, cyberstalking, and threats, can be tracked down and charged as criminals. Sadly, this is not enough, there are just too many people doing the same thing daily. Let alone there are no real rules or regulations to prevent any of this intense online bullying.
The big question is, Is there anything we can do to stop it? There are tons of solutions, but to get any one solution agreed upon would be chaos. It would also be difficult to implement these rules, regulations, or simple changes in the way we give anonymity. The only real temporary solution is to teach younger generations of children to be kind, and possibly teach them new morals and ethics to the way we behave on the internet. It's feasible to imagine a time where being mean isn't socially accepted on the internet, just as smoking or drinking in public. No one is going to stop you, but you understand it's very distasteful in the eyes of many. Perhaps then will some curb their awful thoughts.
I agree with you, Andrew. There is simply too many people on the internet and no real, enforced laws that could effectively stop trolling and harassment. Instead of trying to fix the problem in an advanced stage, we should try attacking the root of it. Reinforcing morals by not only parents but society as well can be effective in making trolling seem lame. Maybe a campaign against harassment/ offensive trolling by famous people can change the perspectives of the youth for good. It's worth a shot and has little potential of creating harm. However, some people might crash the hashtag movement too and then we're back to square one. It's honestly a rat race.
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