Earlier this year, my best friend and I began writing a book under a pen name to protect our identities.Why? We wanted to separate our books’ controversial topics from my identity and protect our future careers. However, I think Sara West explains it better in her article about why we choose to use anonymous platforms and how this may affect our online experiences.
One of the topics she mentioned right away was the fact that students don’t use anonymous platforms to stay anonymous. They use them because their friends are already using them, and so they want to connect with other like-minded people in their community. West’s survey on Yik Yak showed that community belonging can be more important than simply staying anonymous.
So why does any of this matter?
However, choosing to stay anonymous is still an important aspect of online identity. From the interviews, students think staying anonymous means freedom, protection, and community identity. Being anonymous can allow people to speak their minds and be who they want to be. However, in the same sense, these platforms can create ammunition for harassment, bullying, and harmful behavior.
So, tying it back to my original point of why I’m choosing to write an entire book under a pen name. It’s still my work, but by writing under a pen name I feel like I can say what I actually want to say without worrying about someone I know picking up the book because my name is on the cover and finding my work offensive. Although in online spaces anonymity can cause harmful interactions, if used correctly, it can encourage conversations that otherwise may not be brought up in the ways they should.
So yes, I may be a little afraid to speak my name with my real name attached to something, but West’s research shows that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Online communication is so much more than just what people say. The platforms, audiences, and the users’ sense of self all shape how people communicate. West encourages us to think twice about anonymity and the communities we associate ourselves with, especially in online spaces.
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