Social media meltdowns have people asking important questions about online platform design— including the classic debate over real names and anonymity. What difference do they make?
Part of the idea seems to come from companies that want all your information. They want to know your full name, your location, your face, so they can build their profile to either sell you things or sell you to someone else.
Besides that, it's just insanely stupid the idea that people should be forced to provide their actual identity to others just to participate in discussion.
People think of the Internet as this safe thing because people we like are on it and we access it from our living rooms, but it's more like a city block. Sure, there are spots that are safer, but there's going to be a lot of people walking down the street you wouldn't give your personal information to for a variety of reasons.
Yeah, you can probably track down a person's personal info even of someone just walking down the street if you really want it, but even a standard padlock can be picked in 15 seconds but will keep most people from bothering.
Besides that, it's just insanely stupid the idea that people should be forced to provide their actual identity to others just to participate in discussion.
People think of the Internet as this safe thing because people we like are on it and we access it from our living rooms, but it's more like a city block. Sure, there are spots that are safer, but there's going to be a lot of people walking down the street you wouldn't give your personal information to for a variety of reasons.
Yeah, you can probably track down a person's personal info even of someone just walking down the street if you really want it, but even a standard padlock can be picked in 15 seconds but will keep most people from bothering.
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