Rethinking Anonymity Online: A Multidimensional Approach and Measurement
For decades, anonymity has been used in explanations for increased antisocial behaviors. Anonymity has been further problematized in an online environment that allows for diverse forms of self-presentation and privacy management. Yet, anonymity remains insufficiently defined and vaguely measured, limiting our understanding of its role in online communication and behaviors. In our study, we developed a new complex approach to anonymity as a subjective perception. In this contribution, we will elaborate on the process of identifying the diverse dimensions of perceived anonymity in online interactions and their operationalization. The new multidimensional measure of perceived anonymity online was tested on a Czech adult population (N = 1,971). We will focus on the issues linked to the identification of the (sub)dimensions and discuss their reflective and formative nature. We propose a new approach to the concept of online anonymity that helps in understanding its complex nature.