Anonymity is something a friend of mine took for granted, a shield hiding them from the rest of the world. They took it as an opportunity to be toxic and negative. To some extent, it makes sense why people interact with others differently online than in real life. The internet has become ingrained into how we communicate, how we share information, and how we stay connected. Anonymity shields us from people trying to steal our data and find where we live, but there is a darker side to internet anonymity that is as important as the positives that the internet brings. 

When we talk to someone in person, we mind what we say. This may be because we value what we say or what people think of us.  On the internet, though, sites like Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Discord provide anonymity for us behind a screen. Due to the anonymity provided by the web, negative influences of all variations present themselves to a young, impressionable generation of students surfing the internet.

Cyberbullying is the act of harassing or bullying someone using electronic means. According to stopbullying.gov, in 2019 around 16% of students experience cyberbullying of some form between grades 9 -12. These bullies may never be caught, as creating accounts in social media sites such as Twitter and Snapchat takes little time. No personal information may be on the account, making it nearly impossible to find out who owned it. Reporting this account to  site administrators may result in them banning the IP, leaving the bully no choice but to stop unless they want to buy an entirely new device to continue. This removed the bully from the problem, but the damage has already been done.

Sophomore Anthony Wooddell is always skeptical of anonymous posts. False information is everywhere on the internet. People can spread fake data or untrue “facts” with total anonymity, and no repercussions will happen because of the ability for the publisher to remain anonymous. “It’s a lot less credible than someone that shows their name and has a title,” Wooddell said. When students go on the internet to discover and learn, they can form uninformed opinions from this false information.

Many impressionable minds use the internet to learn about topics that interest them, socialize with friends and family, and sometimes take a stand on important issues that resonate with them. Anonymity can be a blessing, allowing kids to be safe while voicing their opinions, but it’s a double edged sword, with people being able to provide false information that taints the curious minds of young students. 

In the end, anonymity shouldn’t be taken away. Students and adults alike have become ingrained in how the internet works. Taking it away would be too drastic of a change. Instead, we should educate students on how anonymity works, and offer them courses or counselling on the internet, showing them the pros and cons of it, and consequences that can come from it. The more we educate our students about reputable sources and potential predators, the better and safer their future will be.