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Effects of anonymity, invisibility, and lack of eye-contact on toxic online disinhibition

Authors:

Noam Lapidot-Lefler,

Azy BarakAuthors Info & Claims

Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 28, Issue 2

Pages 434 - 443

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2011.10.014

Published: 01 March 2012 Publication History

Abstract

The present research studied the impact of three typical online communication factors on inducing the toxic online disinhibition effect: anonymity, invisibility, and lack of eye-contact. Using an experimental design with 142 participants, we examined the extent to which these factors lead to flaming behaviors, the typical products of online disinhibition. Random pairs of participants were presented with a dilemma for discussion and a common solution through online chat. The effects were measured using participants' self-reports, expert judges' ratings of chat transcripts, and textual analyses of participants' conversations. A 2x2x2 (anonymity/non-anonymityxvisibility/invisibilityxeye-contact/lack of eye-contact) MANOVA was employed to analyze the findings. The results suggested that of the three independent variables, lack of eye-contact was the chief contributor to the negative effects of online disinhibition. Consequently, it appears that previous studies might have defined the concept of anonymity too broadly by not addressing other online communication factors, especially lack of eye-contact, that impact disinhibition. The findings are explained in the context of an onlinesense of unidentifiability, which apparently requires a more refined view of the components that create a personal sense of anonymity.

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cover image Computers in Human Behavior

Computers in Human Behavior Volume 28, Issue 2

March, 2012

487 pages

ISSN:0747-5632

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Copyright © Elsevier Ltd © 2011.

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Elsevier Science Publishers B. V.

Netherlands

Publication History

Published: 01 March 2012

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Cited By

Shaheen TBrščić DKanda T(2024)Investigation of Low-Moral Actions by Malicious Anonymous Operators of Avatar RobotsACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction10.1145/369646614:1(1-34)Online publication date: 21-Sep-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3696466
Baughan ATian LShekar PZhang AHiniker A(2024)Supporting Hard Conversations in Close Relationships Through DesignProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36869188:CSCW2(1-22)Online publication date: 8-Nov-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3686918
Harel DMarron A(2024)The Human-or-Machine Issue: Turing-Inspired Reflections on an Everyday MatterCommunications of the ACM10.1145/363721067:6(62-69)Online publication date: 1-Jun-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3637210
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Hsieh JKim JDabbish LZhu H(2023)"Nip it in the Bud": Moderation Strategies in Open Source Software Projects and the Role of BotsProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36100927:CSCW2(1-29)Online publication date: 4-Oct-2023
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