Web Anonymity

What does it Mean
Being anonymous on the web means that any identifying feature of the user is either blocked or changed so it does not appear to be them. This often requires many steps to complete but when done correctly it is hard for an individual's identity to be found. By being anonymous you protect yourself from having your identity shared with those on and monitoring the internet. Reasons for doing this can range from the desire for personal space which if your identity is shown can be compromised to hiding yourself because of activities that you are taking part in. Being anonymous online does not only reflect in the virtual world as a person location can be traced based off of their IP as well as Ping from a server.

Being Truly Anonymous
Being anonymous be it through an avatar or other means affords users different abilities then if they were known on the internet. Their anonymity often makes users feel as if they can do anything and act differently than they normally would. This is where some of the dangers are, people due to their anonymity will act in ways that are not socially accepted without the fear of being scorned. However in a social environment, this can also mean that users are allowed to air their views without repercussions in the real world. Anonymity gives users freedom to do with the internet what they choose. Having this ability for some means that they are able to access content that otherwise would be blocked from them