Pseudonym vs. Real Name

On social media, users take on pseudonyms for all sorts of reasons. Some want to hide their identities while others want the freedom to post without having their comments linked back to their real names. However, some platforms such as Facebook and Google+ have guidelines about requiring users to keep real names so there is no anonymity or pseudonymity. Platforms such as Instagram or Reddit allow users to keep names such as animallover34 and destroyer82 which provides a sense of privacy to the user. So which one is better, pseudonyms or real names?

Arguments for pseudonyms include having protection to users who would like to share or discuss information that possibly puts them in a vulnerable situation. For example, a person with a disorder or illness may want to seek help from others on the web but may not want to reveal this to their friends and family. I experienced the use of pseudonyms during our community assignment when I followed a Reddit group. Many people refrained from using their real names and were much more open about sharing controversial topics. They also were not afraid to be offensive to other people or write about their true feelings. Overall, there are many situations where people want to express themselves without revealing who they actually are in the real world.

On the other hand, advocates of real-identity feel that social networks are just an extension of our real life social behavior and both identities should be the same. Using pseudonyms instead of real names can lead to more fake profiles and more spam. It can also promote behaviors such as online stalking and cyber bullying. As experienced in the Reddit group I joined, using pseudonyms can make users less accountable regarding the stuff they are publishing and comments they are making which leads to the likelihood of hostile environments.

For this class, we had the option of using pseudonyms vs. our real name when creating our blogs or joining other social media sites. I chose to use my real name on all platforms because I felt it provided a more engaging social ecosystem. What about you? Are you using your real name or do you feel more comfortable behind a pseudonym? What helped shape your decision?

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