The Disappearance of Anonymous Comments Will Benefit Responsible Businesses & Individuals
There has been a great deal of talk lately about the value — and potential problems — of anonymous online comments. So much so, that in the past month alone we’ve seen major changes implemented at both the NYTimes.com and on The Journal News’ online website, Lohud.com.
Feedback and engagement are highly sought-after components in the world of social media, and comment boards on blogs and news articles provide both. Comment boards, which often allow, or even encourage, anonymous commenting, have also provided the perfect cover for irresponsible attacks, bigotry, crudeness and behaviors not normally condoned in a civilized society.
The changes instituted at Lohud.com require users to employ software powered by Facebook. Comments are now tied to a user’s Facebook profile, effectively doing away with anonymous commenting. The name identified with a user’s Facebook profile is the name that will appear with that user’s comments.
The New York Times, which currently moderates every comment before it goes online (filtering out “personal attacks and bigoted comments”), has employed a pilot program that gives “Trusted Commenters” the privilege of commenting on articles and blog posts without moderation, thereby giving them the ability to have their comments post immediately. Trusted commenters will also by identified by a special icon on each comment, presumably giving additional clout to their comments.
There have been numerous criticisms of this move away from anonymous comments, and toward a system of accountability. I find it interesting, and somewhat disturbing, that we ever let it come to this in the first place. It’s because publishers sacrificed sound policies to get a few more page views on their website. And because too many think that any conversation is good if it boosts traffic to their sites.
I don’t know of a legitimate print publication that allows anonymous comments, so it seems curious that online outlets could find the policy acceptable.
Some argue that anonymous comments provide sometimes-needed protection for the commenter, but with no way of knowing anything about the commenter, the reader has no way of assigning a value to the comment. We’ve seen examples of individuals establishing numerous online accounts to create false impressions about a variety of issues and entities.
Truly anonymous comments, when even the editors or moderators do not know who is commenting, are hollow — they have no context. The reader doesn’t know if a scathing comment about someone is being made by the person’s former boss, ex-spouse, or ticked-off neighbor. A derogatory comment about a business may be legitimate, but it also may have been fabricated by a competitor or a disgruntled employee.
Contrary to the belief of some, the U.S. constitution does not give people the right to post their comments anonymously on a website owned by someone else. I would argue that is irresponsible for publishers to allow their online property to become a haven for hateful, accusatory and false comments made by people who refuse to stand behind their words.
There are times when names can be rightfully withheld by publications, but only if the publication knows the true identity of the commenter, and is willing to accept responsibility for those words.
This conversation points out the importance of an online reputation for individuals and businesses. I predict that this current trend away from anonymity will continue, and the value of our online reputations will continue to increase.
Smart businesses and individuals have always understood the importance of protecting their reputation — but the stakes are rising. The internet connects people, places and things — like never before. You will be held responsible for the things you say and do — so plan accordingly.
Elizabeth Bracken-Thompson is Executive Vice President, Creative Director and Principal at Thompson & Bender, the leading full service public relations, advertising and marketing agency in Westchester County, NY. Thompson & Bender has been serving a diverse group of businesses and organizations in the New York metropolitan area for the past 25 years.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.