Individuals participating in online communities can remain anonymous and…
2022
Individuals participating in online communities can remain anonymous and create fictitious personas. The ethical concern of this anonymity is that it
Answer: A. facilitates engagement in unethical behavior. — ConceptAnonymity reduces direct identifiability and can weaken perceived accountability. This can produce online disinhibition: people may violate social or…
- A.
facilitates engagement in unethical behavior.
- B.
promotes free expression of ideas.
- C.
enables the government to check the background of communities.
- D.
simplifies business market research.
Attempted by 13 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Concept
Anonymity reduces direct identifiability and can weaken perceived accountability. This can produce online disinhibition: people may violate social or ethical norms because consequences feel less immediate.
Application
Here, fictitious personas separate an online action from a clearly identifiable person. The resulting reduction in accountability can make norm-violating conduct easier to attempt.
Contrast
Engagement in unethical behavior is a harmful conduct outcome associated with reduced accountability and online disinhibition.
Free expression of ideas is a participation benefit associated with lower fear of identification.
Government background checking is an identity-verification activity that depends on traceable, reliable personal information.
Business market research is a commercial analysis activity that depends on useful data about consumers and markets.
Result
Therefore, the ethical concern is that anonymity facilitates engagement in unethical behavior.