Of Anonymity

While I was reading Joseph P's post, one thing he said caused me to think more on the subject of anonymity. 

Joseph said, "In a world with social media, there doesn’t need to be anyone behind a statement. Anonymity is rampant and other forms of communication are dying off." It made me wonder, does social media really encourage anonymity? Or is there a possibility that our social identities inhibits anonymity, forcing us to take responsibility for what we say and do?

To quote Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, "What's in a name? that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." In regards to social media, what's in a profile? In a personal brand you establish on social media? It's a representation of you, no matter what you post (or don't post). 

Does social media inhibit or encourage anonymity? I would think it inhibits it, to the extent that users want to establish themselves as influencers in their social realms. I remember my public relations professor warning us that when we made our profiles private, it implied we had something to hide (from future employers). Companies often "stalk" potential hires to see what their real lives are like. So back to Joseph's statement, I would change it to say that in a world with social media, there does need to be someone behind a statement. If you want your name to be known, you must carefully craft and strengthen your personal brand. 

On the other hand, I can see why some people may create fake identities, to hide their names and stay under the radar. It's easier to bully others and secretly stalk your ex as an anonymous person. It's true, no one could know the difference between a real online identity and a false one, but it'd be hard to maintain a falsified personal brand in the real world. 

This idea of taking credit for who you are reminds me of Petrarch's thoughts on humanism. Social media has given many public figures a new level of control over what their audiences think of them. Supermodels have come out of the shadows, celebrities have connected with fans on a new level (Taylor Swift interacts with super fans on Tumblr regularly), and brands have reinvented themselves, all thanks to social media. 

So yes, social media is an opportunity to avoid your true identity, but it is also an opportunity to embrace your individualism and take control of what others know about who you really are.