Is Digital Anonymity Really Possible?

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nhaji013 hours ago3 min read

For over seven years now, I’ve known of this platform in Ghana called jodel where people come to talk about their experiences and views. I really don’t know if it exists in other country but the one we have in Ghana allows everyone on the platform to be anonymous. You get to set up your profile to suit what you want and also speak freely.

I’ve always said that social media is a very safe place because anyone can be whoever they want. You just need to hide behind and profile picture and you’re good to go. I’ve been on social media for a very long time now and over here, you get to meet people from all over the world, share ideas, meet friends and people who each grow to become family. If you are unlucky, you ca meet prior who would make life very unbearable for you- that’s if you’re out to listen to others abs take their words to heart.

I wouldn’t say I’m extremely active on social media. I’m more of the kind of person who prefers to do their thing and get going. Others on the other hand wish to get noticed and would do anything possible on this earth to achieve that. And then there’s those people who are anonymous. In some cases, they can be the worst people on the internet if they want to because no one knows who they are, where they live or who they are affiliated to. All they do is come online, do whatever they want to and have fun. On their good days, they stick around and on other days, they can disappear into think air.

In this day and age,I would say that technology has permitted people to be anonymous is different ways but the good part is, if and when it’s necessary , the same technology that has allowed you to be anonymous will fish you out from the billion people on earth if need be. People wud to be anonymous for so many reasons and I don’t really mind that people don’t want to be know on social media if only they are using it for good purposes. So many people have and still choose to stay anonymous and that’s just fine by me.

Even here on hive, there are a number of accounts I’ve interacted with over the years and still can’t put a face to. The best I can get is a name which probably isn’t their real name. But then, it’s really not that big of a deal to me as I’m able to learn from these people and interact with them on a deeper level. On the side, there’s some sort of sleekness that comes with this kind of anonymity because what do you mean this person who I don’t know if very smart and can engage with me on a lot of topics. Now I’m hyped up to know who you really are because why not.

Digital live is an entirely different thing from our physical lives. The lives we live on the internet can be the exact opposite of what we live in real life. At the end of the day, just make sure it’s for a good cause.

all images belong to me.