Blog 1 - Battle for the Internet

Battle for the Internet - Online identity: is authenticity or anonymity more important?

The days of anonymity on the internet are coming to a close. According to Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, people on the internet want to interact with people with ‘authentic’ identity. This means they want to know who they are talking to, thus banning anonymity. Facebook and Google require knowing a person’s identity (name, age, location etc.) before they can register. Richard Allan, Facebook’s director of policy in the United Kingdom, on their purchase of Instagram: “Immigration officials will ask to see a photo album to see if a relationship is genuine. It's a very instinctive and powerful way to confirm authentic identity." However, 4Chan and Thor prefer people being anonymous.

Personally, I think that the way it is now, is not as it should be. Massive corporations have your details without you knowing. I like the fact that you know who’s behind the PC while being on Facebook or any other social media, but what is really is important is one’s personal freedom. I cannot be satisfied with other people having my confidential information without me knowing it, thus I say that anonymity on the internet is more important than authenticity. I am not happy that a corporation of thousands of people has a big part of my credentials. Are you?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/19/online-identity-authenticity-anonymity