Unmasking Identities in the Digital Realm
Strange posts on the internet are often the result of a complex combination of psychological peculiarities and motives, primarily linked to the effect of anonymity and the ability to wear any mask. When users discard their habitual social constraints, they allow themselves to express personality traits that are generally suppressed in real life. This creates conditions for emotional expressiveness, where both aggression and playful identity experimentation can emerge.For example, as noted in one source, "People generally do not use their real name, preferring nicknames. Psychologists believe that a person on the Internet sheds their social mask and remains 'as they were born'—complete with all their phobias, complexes, and hidden attractions. On the other hand, a user can choose any mask—a toothless old lady can send winks to a teenager by portraying an innocent maiden, while a young bespectacled person might present themselves as a mature husband, instilling fear in forum opponents." (source: link txt)Another significant motive is the temptation of supposed anonymity, which provides the opportunity to express even the most controversial and extravagant opinions without the fear of being exposed or judged. As stated in another excerpt: "And also, certainly, the great temptation is the alleged anonymity, which applies to both blogs and forums. Anyone can call themselves whatever they like and, under yet another mask, say things they surely would not dare to say face-to-face. The dangers of the virtual computer worlds lie in anonymity." (source: link txt)It is also worth noting that the ability to freely construct one’s personality, combined with the lack of any need to verify one's true identity, often leads to the manifestation of aggressive or paradoxical emotions. This is evidenced by the quote: "A person can easily create a new pseudonym and behave as they wish, without the fear of being recognized. Internet anonymity is one of the main reasons why people can express a diverse range of opinions and be more aggressive than they would be in real life." (source: link txt)Thus, strange posts on the internet may stem from a combination of factors: liberation from social roles and constraints, experimentation with different personas, emotionally charged aggression, and other elements inherent in human psychology under conditions of virtual anonymity. This allows users to create posts that differ from their real-life behavior, thereby forming a unique environment of online communication where both the positive and negative aspects of human nature can be displayed.