Session 5: Discussion about anonymity in online discussions 17 May in the afternoon
To what extent are young people affected by the anonymity of certain online formats, such as internet forums? How does anonymity influence intercultural interactions? When does it make sense to make a discussion anonymous? How much information do you need about a person if you want to have a discussion with them – and why? Sarah Neis from the German organisation Europa Direkt raised these questions during the second parallel session on the afternoon of day 2 of DTD22, triggering a very interesting discussion among those present. The starting point of the debate was the experiences made with the Talking Europe app, a tool that young people can use to share their thoughts on Europe with each other. Users feel safer when they can remain anonymous: they can share their opinions without fear of personal or professional
repercussions. Anonymity also removes the risk of being stereotyped or prejudiced according to one’s gender, age or ethnic origin. Finally, it can also
Session 5: Anonymity (graphic recording: Coline Graphic IJAB)
eliminate any issues over social status. However, effective anonymous communication requires that everyone agrees beforehand to observe a certain “netiquette” so that all users feel safe and confident. In an anonymous setting, users who do not switch on their cameras may feel tempted to ignore the agreed rules. In addition, some
young users may withdraw and decide not to engage actively. One way to get around that
Discussing on the platform Talking Europe (Screenshot: IJAB)
is for each user to choose an avatar with which they can interact with other users at a different level. In fact, the creative use of cameras has already been the subject of a DIY² Lab event: Using cameras creatively.
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