The Power of the Anonymous
Image from Sydney Morning Herald
Who has the power in an anonymous network? No name, no
status and no information on who you really are, the only power you can gain is
through the content you post. Some may think it is possible, but it is through
blogging networks such as Tumblr.
The virtual network I have chosen to analyse for my
assessment from week 3 to week 8 is Tumblr. When I joined Tumblr 8 months ago,
I didn’t quite understand the concept of these numerous blogs that seemed to
differ in the content. But as I have gotten used to the site I have also found
myself lost for hours constantly browsing the new pictures and gifs that people
upload. “Power is practised before it is possessed and it is this that that
gives rise to the roundaboutness of power (Allen, 2003). The power that Allen
is talking about is the power that users can gain by following and reblogging
posts by other users. Therefore leaving no obvious power source as everyone has
the power on Tumblr.
The anonymous have a lot of power online as they are not
restricted to stereotypes according to race, sex, language, age and social
barriers. Tumblr gives a certain amount of anonyminity by giving you lists of
things that you like and allowing you to display and ‘fangirl’/’fanboy’ over.
The power therefore on Tumblr is both a “competition and co-operation (Kuttainen,
2013).” As power is nearly equally distributed and not entirely concentrated in
a single group.
Although the idea of being completely anonymous through the
idea of constant surveillance and ‘Big Brother’ software gives people the idea
they are not completely anonymous. With attacks on other social networks by a
group called Anonymous,
have left people sceptical on the power that social networks hold over our
lives, especially one as distracting as Tumblr.
Reference List
Allen, J.
(2003). Introduction: lost geographies, in lost geographies of power (1 – 12). Malden,
MA: Blackwell.
Kuttainen, V.
(2013). Power: big brother and self-surveillance (Lecture slides from week 2). Retrieved
from: http://learnjcu.edu.au
Image credits
Lee, JY.
(2011). Why online anonymity is an illusion. Retrieved from: http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/why-online-anonymity-is-an-illusion-20111125-1nxnh.html
Hi Genevieve, you brought up some really interesting points about power distribution in social networking sites and its links to anonymity on the web. I believe that anonymity on the web creates a false sense of security and empowerment for users. As stated by Allen (2003), ‘space in one way or another is implicated in relationships of power’. I completely agree and believe that a sense of space or boundaries is inherently lacking on virtual networking sites. We can surf through countless blogs and images on Tumblr and other social networking sites of wide ranging content. This, consequently, distorts our spatial awareness and perceptions of power. Ultimately, empowering people to take greater risks on their virtual networks then they ordinarily would. I think we are in danger of losing site of the importance of space to power. Will this relationship become viewed as irrelevant? Only time will tell.
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