Deindividuation Among Gendered Violence Survivors and Posting About #MeToo

Abstract: Individuals have numerous channels to choose from when posting online, particularly when posting about sensitive or highly personal topics. This study uses the social identity model of deindividuation effects to examine why individuals posted about the #MeToo movement, considering whether they posted about their own experiences as survivors of gendered violence. Specifically, this manuscript offers an alternative theoretical perspective by focusing on positive deindividuation consequences. Participants ( N = 256) completed a survey measuring social identification and perceived anonymity affordances; participants also completed a perceived deindividuation scale that was created for this study and found to be reliable. Results reveal that survivors who posted with #MeToo had stronger group identification with others posting, higher perceptions of anonymity afforded on social network sites, and higher perceptions of deindividuation during #MeToo compared to survivors who chose not to post. This work offers theoretical implications related to positive deindividuating effects, as well as an exploratory measure for deindividuation experiences. Furthermore, this work discusses practical implications related to what makes an online social movement “successful.”