The jig is up, folks. The golden age of internet anonymity are rapidly disappearing. Reddit’s new and unfortunate decision to roll out identity checks is a troubling example of this rising trend. Is this really advancement, or are we losing something vital to the altar of platform “sanity”? Reddit's justification, born from the ashes of an AI bot invasion, sounds reasonable enough: curb manipulation, protect users. Digging a little deeper uncovers a set of prickly ethical issues and unintended consequences.
Is Reddit's Cure Worse Than Disease?
The AI bot scandal was a watershed moment for many. Bye-bye, trust Researchers gamed the ‘Change My View’ subreddit with opinions generated by AI tools. Imagine this—after a vigorous Council meeting debate you have left it all on the field. Before you know it, you’ve found yourself debating with a highly refined algorithm designed to manipulate your perspective. The violation is palpable, the manipulation chilling. Given their level of anger on Reddit and their actual formal complaint with the university, that’s understandable.
Is identity verification—the only solution they’ve proposed—really all there is? It’s a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. We are creating a precedent here.
We have to imagine as the ancient Irish bards did, creating stories of impact and unexpected journeys. This isn’t simply a matter of bots, this is a matter of power and control and what our identity means online.
Anonymity's Unsung Heroes
Let’s remember what made anonymity a key part of the internet in the first place, that’s all. It's a shield for the vulnerable. For whistleblowers exposing corporate malfeasance. For activists organizing against oppressive regimes. For LGBTQ+ people meeting community in places where their being is illegal. For survivors of abuse who need to speak their truth without the fear of retaliation.
Reddit, like much of the rest of the internet, has been built on the foundations of this anonymity. It’s a unique place for people to learn, grow, and engage in dialogue with each other—all while remaining anonymous. Stripping away that layer of protection, even partially, will highly likely have a chilling effect on free speech and open discourse. This positive effect would be felt most by those who need it the most.
We are in an era marked by increased state surveillance and data collection. Sharing such identifying information with a third-party vendor, regardless of Reddit’s assurances that it will protect your data, is a dangerous proposition. Or when Meta handed over a user’s private messages in Nebraska that resulted in felony charges in an abortion case. That’s not a doomsday scenario, that’s the reality check we get when anonymity is stripped away and people are exposed.
Anxiety is natural. Fear is justified. Are we truly going to call it quits and give up the keys to our online lives? Companies will always be responsible to their shareholders and, in some cases, their governments.
What Sacrifices Are We Willing To Make?
Reddit insists that it will not ask for names or other highly sensitive information, but rather collect information related to age and perform “humanness” tests. Who decides what constitutes "humanity?" What algorithms are going to identify if we’re not bots? How can we be confident those algorithms won’t be biased, discriminatory or just plain wrong?
Twitter, Reddit and other platforms are under very real regulatory pressure. This shouldn’t be used as a catch-all excuse to erode user privacy protections. It’s time we demanded a higher standard of transparency and accountability, from platforms like Reddit to the others. Together, let’s push for creative, common-sense solutions to address the bot scourge. We can absolutely do this while protecting the fundamental tenets of anonymity and free speech!
Perhaps the answer lies not in stricture identity checks, but stronger AI detection. Maybe it’s about providing the public with the right tools to help them identify and report suspicious activity. Let’s shift the conversation towards creating a culture of critical thought. By encouraging critical media literacy, we can better equip audiences to identify fact from fiction, regardless of who it comes from.
This isn't just about Reddit. It's about the future of the internet. So what are we willing to give up to feel more secure—freedom or safety? Are we ready to give up the anonymity that has liberated so many in exchange for the façade of platform “safeness?
I, for one, am not convinced. This is starting to sound less like a necessary evil and more like a pretty dangerous step down a slippery slope. We just have to be willing to ask the hard questions and accept nothing less than the truth. Together, let’s work towards a future where online spaces are safe, affordable, accessible, and truly free. Before it's too late.
