There is an undercurrent moving through the internet right now.
As the social media behemoths of the internet plow forward with verifying, identifying and tracking users, a small but growing number of sites are moving in the opposite direction -- prizing anonymity over fingerprinting.
On networks like Scrt.ly, Whisper, and the now-pulled PostSecret app people anonymously submit their secrets and engage with the community. And in the last few months, these sites have seen millions of people flocking to engage with these experiences.
To date, social media has been used for one primary purpose: self-promotion. There is little indication that this will change (and nor should it). But it has meant that online spaces that leverage the benefits of anonymity have been neglected.
There are certainly dangers to anonymous communities. The PostSecret app was recently pulled because of the ugly content posted. Online bullying is at an all time high. But these aren't reasons for marginalizing anonymity altogether as many would like to do. Eric Schmidt recently said, "Within search results, information tied to verified online profiles will be ranked higher than content without such verification, which will result in most users naturally clicking on the top (verified) results. The true cost of remaining anonymous, then, might be irrelevance."
Maybe this is acceptable for Google search results and how the social media mainstays construct their platforms, but anonymity provides a powerful outlet for authenticity, catharsis, and connection. As psychology professor Kassin of Williams points out, "Recent research confirms the healing power of opening up to someone else about one's problems, transgressions, victimizations, and other unpleasant truths." Anonymity needs to be managed, not cut out of our online lives altogether.
Reading the secrets shared on Scrt.ly, Whisper, and PostSecret reveals insight into people's struggles, the darker side of people's lives, and the support that others can offer.
"I have cut my father out of my life because I will never be as amazing as he is," reads one secret on Scrt.ly with 38 reactions to it. "It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember," reads another on Whisper with 21 responses.
In spite of what we might take away from a regular day on the internet, we, as humans, are in fact less than perfect. These spaces allow us to be so, and we need that.
Right now, these sites represent an undercurrent, but I would not be surprised if they point to an emerging trend for a new kind of major online destination.