Something that rarely gets talked about about how Twitter does business is the ability to create and maintain anonymous accounts. All you need to set up an account on Twitter is an e-mail address. After that you’re good to go.
For anyone trying to discover the identity of a Twitter user, it’s next to impossible because there’s nothing publicly disclosed – not even the user’s e-mail address. It raises the question about whether Twitter should allow total anonymity? The issue has been thrust into the spotlight after Village Voice named @discographies (an anonymous Twitter user) as its music critic of the year (Hat tip to ReadWriteWeb).
4 Comments
I don't understand the question lol. Are you asking if Twitter should force people to display more personal info? I don't think so. The only time the anonymity bothers me is when someone is being abusive, but cowards like that would find a way around displaying their real name anyway.
Yes, absolutely. Anonymity is crucial. Twitter is not all about the market, entertainment etc. It's been an amazing Political vehicle. On #iranelection for instance, where many Iranians were disseminating information regarding the June 2009 fraudulent elections, if they had had to be identified, almost no Iranian (local or ex-pat) would have participated. The scope of that political participation was so huge, that #iranelection was trending for an unprecedented length of time. BTW, it continues still, as the barbarity of the Iranian government has escalated. It is crucial that the outside world knows what is happening, and that can only be done—in regards to an oppressive regime, where talking means execution—from behind a veil of anonymity.
We have freedom of speech. We also have a right to privacy. Anonymity is a fundamental right when expressing opinions, however should not be a shield we hide behind when used "intentionally" to harm others.
I don't want everyone in the world to know me or find me. If I want the world to know me then I will. It's OUR choice to make that decision. That is why I don't have a Facebook account and do have a Twitter account.