When undertaking this project I hypothesized that I would find a great deal of negativity in anonymous settings online. By exploring the topic of internet anonymity I proved my hypothesis. This study reveals the negative components that come along with internet anonymity. It shows the differences in negativity in age groups and settings. In revealing the negativity that goes hand in hand with anonymity, my study contributes to the study of new media. Specifically, my study contributes to the study of the negative side to new media and internet anonymity.
In conducting this research, I examined how anonymity is becoming a way for people to post negatively online. After collecting my data I asked why people felt comfortable posting negatively when they were anonymous. Although the data cannot explain all variation, I hypothesize the following potential explanations:
Formspring:
friend network: smaller victim pool
CollegeACB:
school network: larger victim pool
Postsecret:
no network: no victim pool
I hypothesize that because the CollegeACB users had a very large pool of potential subjects to post negatively about, it was mostly negative posts. The formspring data set had a pool of only people in their friend network with access to the formspring profiles, showing less negative posts-- bringing up the question of: is it really anonymous if it is within the friend network? Because formspring is within a network of friends it is more common to see neutral comments because of what I think may be the fear of not being anonymous. And lastly, Postsecret had no "victim pool", causing it to have very little negativity. Because there are no specific people for others to post negatively about, the majority of the posts were positive or neutral.
Postsecret in contrast to CollegeACB and Formspring, does not have a specific person or post that is being responded to. Formspring has a specific person to whom the questions are being asked, and CollegeACB has a specific post that is being responded to. Postsecret on the other hand, is not responding to anything, and doesn't have a "victim pool."
Further research can be done concerning WHAT people are anonymously posting and what the EFFECTS of these negative posts are on the subjects/"victims".
Formspring:
friend network: smaller victim pool
CollegeACB:
school network: larger victim pool
Postsecret:
no network: no victim pool
I hypothesize that because the CollegeACB users had a very large pool of potential subjects to post negatively about, it was mostly negative posts. The formspring data set had a pool of only people in their friend network with access to the formspring profiles, showing less negative posts-- bringing up the question of: is it really anonymous if it is within the friend network? Because formspring is within a network of friends it is more common to see neutral comments because of what I think may be the fear of not being anonymous. And lastly, Postsecret had no "victim pool", causing it to have very little negativity. Because there are no specific people for others to post negatively about, the majority of the posts were positive or neutral.
Postsecret in contrast to CollegeACB and Formspring, does not have a specific person or post that is being responded to. Formspring has a specific person to whom the questions are being asked, and CollegeACB has a specific post that is being responded to. Postsecret on the other hand, is not responding to anything, and doesn't have a "victim pool."
Further research can be done concerning WHAT people are anonymously posting and what the EFFECTS of these negative posts are on the subjects/"victims".
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