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Anonymity is a good thing if you have a tech savvy abusive ex as a good friend of mine does. He has tracked her time and time again until she found a mentor to

Anonymity is a good thing if you have a tech savvy abusive ex as a good friend of mine does. He has tracked her time and time again until she found a mentor to help her hide on the web. It certainly opened my eyes to legitimate uses of the dark web. It is not just a place for shady characters anymore.

joekrill 9y ago
I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Just because something can be abused for nefarious purposes doesn't mean we should ban it or abandon it. People use cars to kill people -- perhaps we should ban those? People use binoculars to violate privacy -- maybe we should ban those, too?
- Powerofmene 9y ago
  I am not suggesting we ban anything. What I was saying is that while being able to conduct ourselves on the web (and be tracked and all that goes with that) is fine for many, actually most, people; for some it is not. I am not suggesting banning the dark web either as it is a better way for some to have access to places they otherwise would not because they are being tracked by someone intent on harming them. Or more simply put, people should be able to access the Internet or the dark web if that is the choice they make....no need to presume they are doing something wrong if they choose the anonymous one.
  - joekrill 9y ago
    Ah ok I guess I misunderstood your comment. Though, to be honest, I still don't quite understand what you were getting at. :$
iaoshd 9y ago
This brings to mind something that has fascinated me recently (and probably applied to your friend's situation). Social networks need to be more open when it comes to how blocking people works and what information they have that allows the network to draw connections between you. If they aren't they're going to suffer. My situation is that after blocking someone on Facebook I got recommended to follow them on Instagram (they were not in my address book on my phone and I haven't shared this with Instagram so the only way I can see Instagram having the info that we even knew each other is from it's parent company). I'm sure the other person probably got the reverse recommendation - something I obviously don't want. I've also had family members of people that I blocked (along with blocking all mutual connections) recommended to me years later. It may not seem like a big deal but depending on your reasons for blocking people or avoiding them online it could be distressing for some. It did however make me seriously consider deleting my account once and for all (in the end I just locked all social media down even further). My personal experience made me think a little about how things have changed. In the past if you ended any kind of relationship (even non-romantic) you could simply choose to not see that person anymore and possibly go the rest of your life without bumping into them or hearing about them. Now, it is a gargantuan and almost impossible task. Like in the case of your friend it can be potentially dangerous but even in more basic cases it can be a mental burden and impossible (or very difficult) to draw a line under someone and move on. I'm rambling a little now but I'd be interested to know if anyone had research or articles they know of discussing this change in society and it's impact on people's wellbeing. I know it's been documented that social media can have a negative impact on mental health so I'd be curious to know if what I've discussed above is a significant factor in that.

joekrill 9y ago

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. Just because something can be abused for nefarious purposes doesn't mean we should ban it or abandon it. People use cars to kill people -- perhaps we should ban those? People use binoculars to violate privacy -- maybe we should ban those, too?

Powerofmene 9y ago
I am not suggesting we ban anything. What I was saying is that while being able to conduct ourselves on the web (and be tracked and all that goes with that) is fine for many, actually most, people; for some it is not. I am not suggesting banning the dark web either as it is a better way for some to have access to places they otherwise would not because they are being tracked by someone intent on harming them. Or more simply put, people should be able to access the Internet or the dark web if that is the choice they make....no need to presume they are doing something wrong if they choose the anonymous one.
- joekrill 9y ago
  Ah ok I guess I misunderstood your comment. Though, to be honest, I still don't quite understand what you were getting at. :$

iaoshd 9y ago

This brings to mind something that has fascinated me recently (and probably applied to your friend's situation). Social networks need to be more open when it comes to how blocking people works and what information they have that allows the network to draw connections between you. If they aren't they're going to suffer. My situation is that after blocking someone on Facebook I got recommended to follow them on Instagram (they were not in my address book on my phone and I haven't shared this with Instagram so the only way I can see Instagram having the info that we even knew each other is from it's parent company). I'm sure the other person probably got the reverse recommendation - something I obviously don't want. I've also had family members of people that I blocked (along with blocking all mutual connections) recommended to me years later. It may not seem like a big deal but depending on your reasons for blocking people or avoiding them online it could be distressing for some. It did however make me seriously consider deleting my account once and for all (in the end I just locked all social media down even further). My personal experience made me think a little about how things have changed. In the past if you ended any kind of relationship (even non-romantic) you could simply choose to not see that person anymore and possibly go the rest of your life without bumping into them or hearing about them. Now, it is a gargantuan and almost impossible task. Like in the case of your friend it can be potentially dangerous but even in more basic cases it can be a mental burden and impossible (or very difficult) to draw a line under someone and move on. I'm rambling a little now but I'd be interested to know if anyone had research or articles they know of discussing this change in society and it's impact on people's wellbeing. I know it's been documented that social media can have a negative impact on mental health so I'd be curious to know if what I've discussed above is a significant factor in that.