In the UK both the Times and the Independent online newspapers are banning anonymous comments. To comment you will have to log in. Though still be able to use a pseudonym, comments will be linked to an account and traceable back to the originator, effectively erasing anonymity.
On one hand anonymous commenting can lead to situations where rude, uncivil, derogatory or just plain nasty things can be posted. There’s even a term for it - ‘trolling’. On the other hand, anonymous commenting gives people a freedom to say whatever they want without self censoring themselves. Anonymity gives many people the confidence to tell their truth – be it mundane or controversial - without fear of reprisals.
Anonymous commenting would therefore seem to be a case of protecting civility and sensibility vs protecting freedom of speech.
If websites are concerned about civility in their comments section they should apply more effective moderation, filtering out those comments that they deem too offensive for publication. This is more labour intensive, but encourages people to speak truthfully, without self censoring themselves.
In today’s world what you say and post online can come back to haunt you. Potential employers check social networking pages before making a final decision on hiring. The practice of data mining can be used to build a profile of a person. Innocent or controversial comments have the real chance of damaging careers or reputations. Anonymous posting has always been a way to protect yourself from these practices.
References:
Dowling, T 2010, Will other sites follow the Independent in banning anonymous postings? Guardian.co.uk
On one hand anonymous commenting can lead to situations where rude, uncivil, derogatory or just plain nasty things can be posted. There’s even a term for it - ‘trolling’. On the other hand, anonymous commenting gives people a freedom to say whatever they want without self censoring themselves. Anonymity gives many people the confidence to tell their truth – be it mundane or controversial - without fear of reprisals.
Anonymous commenting would therefore seem to be a case of protecting civility and sensibility vs protecting freedom of speech.
If websites are concerned about civility in their comments section they should apply more effective moderation, filtering out those comments that they deem too offensive for publication. This is more labour intensive, but encourages people to speak truthfully, without self censoring themselves.
In today’s world what you say and post online can come back to haunt you. Potential employers check social networking pages before making a final decision on hiring. The practice of data mining can be used to build a profile of a person. Innocent or controversial comments have the real chance of damaging careers or reputations. Anonymous posting has always been a way to protect yourself from these practices.
References:
Dowling, T 2010, Will other sites follow the Independent in banning anonymous postings? Guardian.co.uk
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