Annotated Bibliography

Hlavach, Laura, and William H. Freivogel. "Ethical Implications of Anonymous Comments Posted to Online News Stories." Journal of Mass Media Ethics 26.1 (2011): 21-37. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

This article addresses the issue of people anonymously posting comments online.  Many commenters do not filter their words and the posts often become offensive.  The article basically speaks about the issue of anonymity within websites that allow postings from users.

Woong Yun, Gi, and Sung-Yeon Park. "Selective Posting: Willingness to post a message online." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 16.2 (2011): 201-227. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

This article evaluates the differences between anonymous posting and nonanonymous posts.  The article explores the testing of willingness to speak out in posts.  It also speaks to the idea of the traditional communication theory.  The scholars used a "2X2 factorial design" to test the willingness to speak out in an online discussion forum.

Foster, Sophie. "4. Who let the blogs out? Media and free speech in post-coup Fiji." Pacific Journalism Review 13.2 (2007): 47-60. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

In this article, Fiji is mentioned in that anonymous blogs allowed people to safely express their anti-coup views.  On the other hand, these blogs sometimes became racist or offensive.  It explores the idea of how the anonymity of the blogs provided safety for the users to post their true feelings and opinions.

Gsell, Lindsay. "Comments Anonymous." American Journalism Review 31.1 (2009): 16-17. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 13 Apr. 2011.

This article talks about the problems spam, profanity, and harassment that occur as a result of anonymity on the internet.  It discusses ways to regulate and prevent the negative (and anonymous) posts being received by American newspapers online.  The new policy included requiring user registration, which takes away from the idea of complete anonymity therefore lessening negative posts. 

Hua, Qian, and Craig R. Scott. "Anonymity and Self-Disclosure on Weblogs." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 12.4 (2007): 1428-1451. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.

This article details why bloggers feel more comfortable being anonymous.  Many bloggers feel uncomfortable revealing their identities and fear negative consequences in response to what they write.  The research from this study shows that increased visual anonymity is not associated with more self-disclosure.


Sokol, Dominika, and Vit Sisler. "Socializing on the Internet." Global Media Journal: American Edition 9.16 (2010): 1-34.Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 May 2011.


This article evaluates four different sections of socializing on the internet.  The first section is about the intensity and frequency of internet use.  The second section is about the gender and identity of the user.  The third section speaks about users meeting other users in person instead of anonymously online.  Lastly, the fourth section talks about how users feel about using the internet for social interaction with other users.

Wong-Lo, Mickie. "Cyberbullying: Responses of adolescents and parents toward digital aggression."Dissertation Abstracts International, A: The Humanities and Social Sciences. 71.3 (2010): Print.

This article talks about cyberbullying, how it comes about, and how it is characterized.  It has statistics about the amount of cyberbullying that occurs among adolescence.  The study is credible through its use of anonymous surveys.  The study shows that many parents of adolescences are not  knowledgeable about cyberbullying or their child's involvement with cyberbullying.

Stieglitz, Eric J. "ANONYMITY ON THE INTERNET: HOW DOES IT WORK, WHO NEEDS IT, AND WHAT ARE ITS POLICY IMPLICATIONS?." Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal 24.3 (2007): 1395-1417.Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 May 2011.

This article talks about why people like to remain anonymous on the internet.  It also contrasts the U.S.'s regulations on internet and privacy with that of China.  It touches on how the Government should realize how censorship can affect internet users and push them into even more anonymous internet use.

Kennedy, Helen. "Beyond anonymity, or future directions for internet identity research." New Media & Society 8.6 (2006): 859-876. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 May 2011.

This article studies whether or not anonymity is a useful focus for studies of sociocultural studies of internet identities.  This article also talks about the claim of internet identities remaining anonymous.  It also touches on the concept of internet anonymity being limited.

Markman, Kris M., and Craig R. Scott. "Anonymous Internet? Questioning Common Perceptions of Online Communication By Investigating Email Usernames." Conference Papers -- International Communication Association (2005): 1-41. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 30 May 2011.


This study researches how identity is connected with anonymity associated with email usernames.  It studies how anonymous people feel using different common usernames. The study concluded that email usernames were thought to be highly identifiable even though they are considered anonymous.