In The Social Media. Anonymity allows the individual to have a voice without disclosing a name or a name which is pseudonym. On the other hand, it is writing online under a name that is not linked to one’s own civil identity, including having no name at all. The most common type of anonymity involves the use of a pseudonym, a fake photo or the lack of one, and nothing specific in the bio.

Reasons for anonymity

• The most well-known argument for anonymity is the ability to tell the truth in the face of spiteful regimes.
• Not allowing the views to be correlated with the real person being discussed in the offline world.
• By not using their true identity, people may receive a more impartial review of their messages.
• People are more equal in anonymous talks; variables such as status, gender, and so on have no bearing on the judgement of what they say.
• A desire to engage in talks without being evaluated based on previous experiences

Challenges faced

• Hate speech — It is true that the most venomous, nasty, abrasive, and obfuscatory conversations/replies appear to originate from anonymous handles.
• Disrupts peace — Anonymity seekers take use of ‘freedom of expression’ rights to target specific individuals or communities that undermine societal harmony.
• Anonymity is a severe concern because when the anonymity-seeker feels that their real-world self will not be harmed, they appear less constrained and braver about what they disclose.
• Online bullying – Recent developments indicate that anonymity is being utilised to instil hatred in individuals or groups.
• Evades public judgments – Anonymity offers a person the ability to avoid public judgement. They can only be held liable for disseminating falsehoods if they have a legal mandate.
• Promotes Fake News – Raises concerns not simply about abuse or strong beliefs, but also about misinformation and disinformation.

Anonymity and pseudonymity may be utilised for both good and evil. And, because anonymity might be beneficial for one individual while being undesirable for another, countries should have laws that both protect and prohibit anonymity. Every site that offers anonymity must publish a privacy policy outlining exactly when they will violate the anonymity.

How to structure
1) Give an intro about the concept of anonymity
2) Explain the challenges faced by the concept of anonymity in online platforms
3) Briefly mention the importance of anonymity and why it should not be misused and
connect this to constitutional/SC judgements.
4) Suggest way forward and conclude

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/the-many-problems-of-online-anonymity/article38293402.ece