Alex Chen
Anonymity on the Internet
The Internet is a powerful, modern tool that has changed society’s daily life: paying bills, talking with friends, doing work, etc. However, it comes as a surprise to many the severe impact the Internet has had over political and personal viewpoints. Passionate individuals have begun to express a hodgepodge of opinions and ideas through blogs, posts, comments, and even Facebook statuses. They have developed two sets of personalities that are used in real life and in the virtual world, respectively. Most often, these individuals form a rebellious attitude, on the Internet, towards the many rules and regulations set by society. However, a fundamental question remains: would such individuals have taken this course of action had they been doing so using their own identity? With the power of anonymity, radicals have turned to the Internet to declare their beliefs and rebel against oppression, utterly free from personal accountability. Without the fear of being judged, and the lack of taking responsibility for their actions, people have a greater tendency to express deeply-rooted beliefs that usually remain unknown to the public eye. Anonymity on the Internet has given rebellion a new form for people to use, as it allows them to freely express their opinions to the open public while providing an impenetrable sense of security against judgement or government arrest.
The definition of rebellion has dramatically changed between the 20th and 21st century, especially after the Internet began to gain public face in the 1990’s. Rebellion has always had the purpose of overthrowing or opposing an oppressing power: parents, school, or even the government. However, throughout the centuries, as technology develops at an astounding rate, the method and thought process in performing rebellions changes too. The two books, Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals and Taking on the System, by Saul D. Alinsky and Markos Zuniga, respectively, explain the foundation and background of building a radical group. For example, they believe that specific terms, such as power or conflict, are the basis of not only what a rebel is, but also the “dynamo of life” (Alinsky 51). Without power or conflict, the world would be empty and dead. In addition, they believed that a rebellion can only live and thrive through the combined forces of many people with a common goal. Although it is true that the individual rises over the needs of the group, the organizer is able to combine separate people into a single, rebel group. Communication is also an important aspect that every organizer must have in order to be effective and successful. If the organizer cannot communicate with his rebel group, the position of a leader does not even exist. Furthermore, if the organizer does not listen to what others say, the foundation of the rebellion crumbles.
Both authors also take on different perspectives in separate time periods. In the 1970’s, Alinsky believed that power was used through an organizer’s actions, resulting in fear and leading to compromise (Alinsky 59). However, in the 21st century, Zuniga demonstrates, through examples, how power is controlled not only through one person, but through the simple cooperation of any group of individuals. Power can develop and grow with the most unlikely volunteers, and one day become an influential being (Zuniga 65). In addition, Alinsky’s examples focus on a rebellious protest through people’s movements, and significance in the political world; such examples include the black rebel incidence at the theatre or the Declaration of Independence. During the black rebel incidence, many white people collaborated with the black populace, fighting against segregation. In a predominately white theater, black people were given tickets, as well as a fully funded dinner of only beans. During the performance, the black people released as much bodily gas as possible, causing mayhem in the theater. Because bodily functions are impossible to oppose, and the black individuals did not break any law, much impact was made on the town. On the other hand, Zuniga explains how influence of the media is a key part of building a rebellion. “If you cannot influence the flow of information, you cannot effect change on any substantial scale” (Zuniga 15). With the recent influx of communicative technology, the media can reach a much wider population and provide a much wider variety of information pertaining to world or local news. As a result, modern rebellions tend to rely upon the media for the success of their projects.
The Internet has become one of the most useful forms of operation for a rebel group in the modern world. In recent years, “many contemporary academic and popular commentators argue that information and communication technologies (ICTs) are about to inflict widespread social, cultural, economic, and political change upon the twenty-first century”. In addition, “ICTs are also increasingly evident in political visions of social inclusion and cohesiveness” (Valentine 302). Numerous politicians believe that the usage of ICTs acts as a means of including the populace’s opinion throughout the political process; therefore, a well informed democracy forms. While the television and radio are also forms of ICTs, the usage of the Internet has overwhelmed the other two, with “the number of Americans on the Net roughly tripling in the last three years” (Shapiro 20). Although it may seem that the Internet is the perfect place for major, influential organizations to exist, this also works both ways. Rebel organizations can also utilize the Internet for their own needs, and also input their own ideas into the political world. Participation can be from both supporters and non-supporters, resulting in a large debate between which opinion is the lesser of two evils. It is the perfect modern workplace for the new, modern rebel.
On the Internet, being anonymous gives people a chance to express something that would have been looked down upon in real life. With Internet-connected PCs as the latest forms of media, users can now “access information and communicate with whom they want, freed from the material and social constraints of their bodies, identities, communities, and geographies,” which is “potentially liberating for those who are socially, materially, or physically disadvantaged” (Valentine 302). Anyone, whether from the lower, middle, or higher class, now has the ability to express themselves through the Internet. They are not restrained by social statuses or disabilities; instead, the Internet lets everyone thrive as equal individuals. New identities are created and “Anonymous” becomes an actual being in the virtual world. Throughout history, many famous people, such as Virginia Wolff or Mark Twain, have relied upon anonymity to convey their messages. By doing so, they can focus on their arguments instead of constantly being bombarded by the social constraints set by society. As an example, Virginia Wolff lived in a time period where women were seen as incapable beings, and were not taken seriously in most situations. As a result, she took on an anonymous persona in order to write her books, arguing against the pressure society had.
In a similar sense, anonymity on the Internet is used to remove the anxiety of peoples’ criticism and the fear of governmental control. Without the chains of social norms, people can divert their attention towards their discussions. Anonymity can also be used to find others with similar interests, especially on the Internet. The Internet provides a level playing ground for every person; therefore, people are unable to judge a person based upon status or physical characteristics. Instead, they must focus their opinion of others on the comments or arguments made in discussions or actions (Shapiro 20). Some commentators even suggest that “virtual relationships are more intimate and richer than off-line relationships because they are formed on the basis of genuine mutual interest, rather than being based on the coincidence of off-line proximity” (Valentine 304). Therefore, pertaining to both Alinsky and Zuniga’s arguments, the Internet would seem to be the most reasonable medium in building an army of rebels. Through the strong relationships created on the Internet, communication can freely flow back and forth between the organizer and the rebel group members. In addition, the organizer can develop trust for the individuals, allowing the rebellion to branch out and focus on different aspects of their common goal. With anonymity as their main weapon, rebels can also inflict fear upon the organization they are fighting against. In Alinsky’s argument, which also applies to Zuniga’s examples, having the power of anonymity brings doubt and confusion within the opposing force. They become unsure of the number of members within the rebel group, and fear that they may be overrun (Alinsky 118). As an example, gender inequality within Latin America has been rampant and uncontrolled. One of the few methods that many women, including lesbian, gay , bisexual, and transgender rights advocates, have used in Latin America was to disguise themselves with anonymous user names on the Internet. As more political discussions formed on the Internet, these anonymous users injected their own ideas and opinions about gender inequality, directly influencing the direction of the argument (Friedman). While anonymity is not always the best method for leading a rebellion, it is still a useful tool that can be applied in many problems around the globe.
Anonymity gives people the mindset that they are free and untouchable from judgement or government interference. The “real” and “virtual” world are regarded as “distinct or unconnected from each other and posses different, usually oppositional, qualities... ‘virtual’ space is understood to be an improvement on the ‘real’ world, a chance to fill out or overcome its limitations” (Valentine 304). Anonymity is sometimes used as an escape from responsibilities and consequences. As a result, people can place the blame of certain situations on the anonymous being instead of the actual person. “On the Internet you can hid your real identity. It is a major reason people think that government cannot regulate online behavior. After all, how would the police know who you are?” (Shapiro 19). While the government may be one example of an oppressing force, Internet users can also hide from the constant judgment of other people, such as parents or peers. In a recent study made by Gill Valentine and Sarah L. Holloway, “this is particularly appealing to young people because in the adultist world of off-line space they are commonly treated as less knowledgeable, less serious, and less competent than are adults” (Valentine 308). Because of the Internet, teenagers, who are often self-conscious about what other people think of them and how their bodily identities read, are able to have meaningful conversations with other people.
However, government precautions are slowly taking over the Internet and “Anonymous”. For years, creative cyber-rights advocates have attempted to defend against censorship by arguing that “online interactions occur on some distant frontier beyond the reach of ‘meatspace’ governments” (Shapiro 17). Authoritarian nations have developed a more “sly silicon touch in order to control what their citizens can read and hear online (Shapiro 18)”. For example, governments have created filtering software and protocols, making censorship easier than in the predigital era. Instead of confiscating books and pamphlets, governments can simply route all Internet traffic through proxy servers. As a result, they are able to sift out whatever they deem subversive or offensive. In a more specific example, China uses a great deal of proxy servers to exclude a large amount of foreign content, from dissadent websites to even the New York Times (Shapiro 18). While this may be true, anonymity still rules over the Internet. With virtual private networks and other forms of technological privacy tools, people can still cover their real identities with fake ones. While governments may be creating new methods to remove “Anonymous” on the Internet, rebel groups will continue to create even better means of bypassing government control to keep “Anonymous” alive and breathing.
Rebellion has changed a great deal since the introduction of the Internet. While anonymity was used in years before the existence of the Internet, it has grown and facilitated the actions of many major rebel organizations. In modern years, anonymity is not only used for protection against unwanted opinions or prejudice; instead, it has become a tool used by many to fight against oppression and social constraints. With the new century comes a new tactic in rebellion.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alinsky, Saul D. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals. New York: A Division of Random House Inc, 1971. Print.
Friedman, Elisabeth Jay. “The Reality of Virtual Reality: The Internet and Gender Equality Advocacy in Latin America.” Latin American Politics and Society 47.3 (2005): 1-34. JSTOR. 16 Oct. 2010.
Valentine, Gill, and Sarah L. Holloway. “Cyberkids? Exploring Children's Identities and Social Networks in On-Line and Off-Line Worlds.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers 92.2 (2002): 302-319. JSTOR. 16 Oct. 2010.
Shapiro, Andrew L. “The Internet.” Foreign Policy 115 (1999): 14-27. JSTOR. 16 Oct. 2010.
Zuniga, Markos Moulitsas. Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era. New York: Penguin Group Inc, 2008. Print.