research-article

"People Are Either Too Fake or Too Real": Opportunities and Challenges in Tie-Based Anonymity

Authors:

Nazanin Andalibi,

Louise Barkhuus,

Mor NaamanAuthors Info & Claims

CHI '17: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

Pages 1781 - 1793

https://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025956

Published: 02 May 2017 Publication History

Abstract

In recent years, several mobile applications allowed individuals to anonymously share information with friends and contacts, without any persistent identity marker. The functions of these "tie-based" anonymity services may be notably different than other social media services. We use semi-structured interviews to qualitatively examine motivations, practices and perceptions in two tie-based anonymity apps: Secret (now defunct, in the US) and Mimi (in China). Among the findings, we show that: (1) while users are more comfortable in self-disclosure, they still have specific practices and strategies to avoid or allow identification; (2) attempts for deidentification of others are prevalent and often elaborate; and (3) participants come to expect both negativity and support in response to posts. Our findings highlight unique opportunities and potential benefits for tie-based anonymity apps, including serving disclosure needs and social probing. Still, challenges for making such applications successful, for example the prevalence of negativity and bullying, are substantial.

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Cited By

Kolenbrander JHusmann EHenshaw CRheault EBoswell MMichaels A(2024)Use & Abuse of Personal Information, Part II: Robust Generation of Fake IDs for Privacy ExperimentationJournal of Cybersecurity and Privacy10.3390/jcp40300264:3(546-571)Online publication date: 11-Aug-2024
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp4030026
Zani ANorman AGhani N(2022)Motivating Factors to Self-Disclosure on Social Media: A Systematic MappingIEEE Transactions on Professional Communication10.1109/TPC.2022.318442865:3(370-391)Online publication date: Sep-2022
https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2022.3184428
Barta KAndalibi N(2021)Constructing Authenticity on TikTok: Social Norms and Social Support on the "Fun" PlatformProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34795745:CSCW2(1-29)Online publication date: 18-Oct-2021
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Index Terms

"People Are Either Too Fake or Too Real": Opportunities and Challenges in Tie-Based Anonymity
1. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing and business

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cover image ACM Conferences

CHI '17: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

May 2017

7138 pages

ISBN:9781450346559

DOI:10.1145/3025453

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Gloria Mark
University of California Irvine
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Cornell University
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University of Michigan
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m.c. schraefel
University of Southampton
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Juan Pablo Hourcade
University of Iowa
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Université Paris-Sud
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University of Toronto

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https://doi.org/10.3390/jcp4030026
Zani ANorman AGhani N(2022)Motivating Factors to Self-Disclosure on Social Media: A Systematic MappingIEEE Transactions on Professional Communication10.1109/TPC.2022.318442865:3(370-391)Online publication date: Sep-2022
https://doi.org/10.1109/TPC.2022.3184428
Barta KAndalibi N(2021)Constructing Authenticity on TikTok: Social Norms and Social Support on the "Fun" PlatformProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34795745:CSCW2(1-29)Online publication date: 18-Oct-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3479574
Guo CCaine K(2021)Anonymity, User Engagement, Quality, and Trolling on Q&A SitesProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/34492155:CSCW1(1-27)Online publication date: 22-Apr-2021
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Andalibi N(2020)Disclosure, Privacy, and Stigma on Social MediaACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction10.1145/338660027:3(1-43)Online publication date: 31-May-2020
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Seering JHammer JKaufman GYang DBernhaupt RMueller FVerweij DAndres JMcGrenere JCockburn AAvellino IGoguey ABjørn PZhao SSamson BKocielnik R(2020)Proximate Social Factors in First-Time Contribution to Online CommunitiesProceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3313831.3376151(1-14)Online publication date: 21-Apr-2020
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Scott CRains S(2020)(Dis)connections in anonymous communication theory: exploring conceptualizations of anonymity in communication researchAnnals of the International Communication Association10.1080/23808985.2020.184336744:4(385-400)Online publication date: 14-Nov-2020
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Andalibi NBrewster SFitzpatrick GCox AKostakos V(2019)What Happens After Disclosing Stigmatized Experiences on Identified Social MediaProceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3290605.3300367(1-15)Online publication date: 2-May-2019
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