Now you see me, now you don't: A study of the relationship between internet anonymity and Finnish young people

Siirretty Doriast

Now you see me, now you don't – A study of the relationship between internet anonymity and Finnish young people.

The internet has allowed for a vast array of relational and expressional opportunities and risks, becoming an especially central component in the lives of young people in nations leading in consumer technology. Notably, most forms of internet use involve a level of user anonymity, whether carrying out online exploration, expression or interaction. This dissertation represents an early exploration of the relationship between young people and internet anonymity. The main goal of the research is to examine how young people understand internet anonymity and its effects in addition to what psychological and socio-demographic characteristics are linked to preferring anonymous expression online. Four studies were constructed for the purpose of this aim, each bringing a unique perspective to the discussion of internet anonymity through both past theoretical frameworks and previous studies on the online behavior of young people. Results of these studies highlighted various ways in which online anonymity provides avenues for meeting the needs of young people through forms of beneficial social invisibility while also being viewed as a cause for certain risks due to the lack of accountability for aggressors. Overall, the studies allowed for the effects of anonymity to be linked as both cause and facilitator to various opportunities and risks found in past research concerning online behavior. Furthermore, the identification of characteristics of those preferring anonymity online provided a bridge between anonymity studies and studies on internet use toward a new perspective of how the structural nature of the internet can affect users. Finally, the various findings along with the development of a model of modern internet anonymity provide points of reference for future research while also highlighting existing gaps in the study of young people online.&nbsp;</p

Toward a deeper understanding of youth internet use – Contextualizing previous findings into a model of modern anonymity online

Youth interaction provided by the Internet, where various levels of user anonymity persist, represents a significant arena for social science research. This article presents a new theoretical perspective on understanding the online setting in which young people are involved, based on research on the effects of anonymity and motivation along with recent work on youth online behavior. This involves a review of the Social Identity model of Deindividuation Effects (SIDE)&nbsp; having to do with an understanding of the effects of anonymity through the lens of identity, in addition to the delving into the tools for understanding youth motivation provided by Self-Determination Theory (SDT), concerning individual motivation through the lens of innate needs. SIDE is used to provide background context to the framing of modern anonymity and SDT provides a rationale for an updated understanding of potential online motivations toward consuming social media online along with its anonymous aspects. These two frames are combined with a review of recent findings on youth Internet use toward connecting these previously separate areas of research for the development of a new model of the anonymous online environment in which young people interact. The discussion of these pieces together serves to synchronize the creation of a model through which to approach issues concerning the relationship between Internet anonymity and youth behavior online.</p

Self-exploration, anonymity and risks in the online setting – analysis of narratives by 14-18-year olds

This article explores youth narratives of internet risks and opportunities brought about by user anonymity. Using an essay-based study of 258 youth (mean age 15.4 years, 56% female), we examined youth narratives concerning the effects of internet anonymity on youth behavior online. Narratives were written anonymously to maximize disclosure. The needs categories of Self-Determination Theory (SDT) for autonomy, relatedness, and competence were used to identify risks and opportunities in youth narratives. The analysis of the data was thematic, using both quantitative and qualitative methods with SDT providing an effective descriptive framework. Quantitative thematic analysis showed that 17% of the narratives included a notion of competence, 32% autonomy and 30% relatedness. Risks were also prevalent in the narratives, with primary themes of 74% cyberbullying and insults, 27% identity theft and risky false identity, and 18% sexual harassment or exploitation. The qualitative analysis underlines the interaction of both risks and opportunities in the use of social media online by youth. These findings illuminate both the importance of Internet opportunities as a social tool for youth need fulfillment toward self-determination and the social risks that youth internet use involves.</p

Young People as Victims of Crime on the Internet – A Population-based Study in Finland

This study investigates cybercrime, which has become a significant phenomenon within the last two decades. Being a victim of fraud, defamation or harassment online concerns, younger age groups who are active Internet users. A population-based cross-sectional survey collected from 15 to 74 year olds in Finland (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;46,139) is used as data. The first analysis section assesses whether the younger age group (15&ndash;24 year olds) is more likely to be exposed to cybercrime than older age groups. The second analysis section delves into what kinds of risk factors are associated with the exposure to Internet crime among young people aged 15&ndash;24. Descriptive analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis are used as methods. The results show that young people are more likely to be victims of cybercrime even when other factors were adjusted for. Besides age, other factors including gender, education, economic status, and violent victimization are associated with cybercrime victimization. The analysis conducted on 15&ndash;24 year olds shows that participation in online communities and violent victimization were associated with cybercrime victimization. Good offline social networks were a protective factor against cybercrime victimization among females. Young cybercrime victims were more likely to be worried about future victimization. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding both psychosocial risk factors offline and patterns of risky online behavior. The risk of cybercrime victimization is related to the problems that young people may face in the offline everyday life.</p

Social Tie Strength and Online Victimization : An Analysis of Young People Aged 15-30 Years in Four Nations

Online interaction through the use of social networking sites (SNS) continues to be a significant component of the socialization of young people today, yet little research exists toward linking various relational forms to prevalent and much-studied online risks cross-nationally. This article provides a link between relational dynamics and online risks identified in previous research toward a new perspective on how social tie strength is related to experiences of hate victimization and harassment online. The analysis is based on survey data of Finnish (n = 555), American (n = 1033), German (n = 978), and British (n = 999) young people aged 15-30 years. Variables, including age, gender, main activity, SNS use, quantity, and extent of online and offline social networks including social tie strength and online community identification, were analyzed toward finding their associations with online hate victimization and harassment. Results showed that experiences of hate victimization and harassment were similar cross-nationally and that those who were personally harassed online also reported high SNS activity. Furthermore, no association was found between social network size and negative experiences. Notable cross-national differences were also detected in the results. Findings emphasize the importance of understanding variables fostering online risks for young people while providing a new perspective on what aspects of social life may help negate negative effects online.Peer reviewe

Online Hate and Harmful Content : Cross-National Perspectives

Peer reviewe

Online Hate and Harmful Content

Over the past few decades, various types of hate material have caused increasing concern. Today, the scope of hate is wider than ever, as easy and often-anonymous access to an enormous amount of online content has opened the Internet up to both use and abuse. By providing possibilities for inexpensive and instantaneous access without ties to geographic location or a user identification system, the Internet has permitted hate groups and individuals espousing hate to transmit their ideas to a worldwide audience. Online Hate and Harmful Content focuses on the role of potentially harmful online content, particularly among young people. This focus is explored through two approaches: firstly, the commonality of online hate through cross-national survey statistics. This includes a discussion of the various implications of online hate for young people in terms of, for example, subjective wellbeing, trust, self-image and social relationships. Secondly, the book examines theoretical frameworks from the fields of sociology, social psychology and criminology that are useful for understanding online behaviour and online victimisation. Limitations of past theory are assessed and complemented with a novel theoretical model linking past work to the online environment as it exists today. An important and timely volume in this ever-changing digital age, this book is suitable for graduates and undergraduates interested in the fields of Internet and new media studies, social psychology and criminology. The analyses and findings of the book are also particularly relevant to practitioners and policy-makers working in the areas of Internet regulation, crime prevention, child protection and social work/youth work