Week 10

     Anonymity is something that many people strive for in their lives when it comes to saying certain things. Not too long ago it was hard to say anything anonymously because things typically had to be said face to face. Nowadays, however, people can anonymously publish things on the Internet through the use of social media and message boards where you can post with a pseudonym.
     Certain sites like Whisper allow people to post anything from their deepest secret to the most random quotes they can imagine, all without using their real name. It is all anonymous. There is good in this, in the fact that someone could have a secret weighing on them but not want to share it with anyone personally. Sites like this allow them to post what is bothering them without the fear of people uncovering their identity. And sometimes when a person has major depression going on and they post something about their life, people can rally around them (anonymously of course) and hopefully make them feel better. Of course, there is a down side to this as well. People can post cruel things in response to a person's anonymous statement. '
     Another way people can post anonymously is by creating fake social media accounts on sites like Twitter and Facebook. Some people do it just to be funny, like making an account for their pet just to post things like cat videos. Police can do it to gather evidence on criminals. However, other people can use it for criminal activities. Some criminals use it to target their next victim, either someone whose house they can break into or someone they can stalk and potentially plan to rape/murder. Others, typically teenagers, can use these fake profiles to bully other individuals. The victim will never know who the bully is on the Internet because it isn't a real identity. By using a fake profile, they make it harder for authorities to figure out who the actual perpetrator is.
     Sometimes posting anonymously can help individuals feel better about themselves by sharing things that they need off their chests without having to tack their name onto it. However, being able to post anonymously can have deadly consequences. A criminal can find their next victim. A bully can cause a victim to see no way to end the bullying other than committing suicide. Anonymity can be useful in social media, but it is something that people need to be aware of and stop to think before they accept any unknown individuals or doing anything that could lead to them being hurt.  As with most things, anonymity is good until it is placed in the wrong hands.