Predicting appropriateness assessments for anonymous use of online communication channels

Even though anonymity can be an aspect of various uses of communication technologies, we have rather limited knowledge about the appropriateness of that anonymity. The research reported here examined two types of anonymous engagement behaviors (passive and active) and their perceived appropriateness. Several types of predictors for these appropriateness assessments were examined here: identity- and user-based differences (e.g. gender, time spent online) and various attitudes tied to anonymity. Survey results from a nationally representative US sample suggest age and annual income levels were consistent predictors of appropriateness assessments across passive and active anonymous engagement behaviors. Overall, attitudes linked to anonymity are generally even more predictive of appropriateness assessments for anonymous engagement behaviors; more specifically, trust in anonymous sources and pro-anonymity views are the strongest attitudinal predictors of both passive and active anonymous engagement behaviors.