Topic 2 Week 3 Question A

Is withholding one’s identity ethically wrong?

If you were applying for a job and you put in a different name, age and address, this may seem unethical, plus it just wouldnt work within society. If everyone went around and everyday changed who they were, this would be wrong. Therefore why does this type of behaviour exist online. This isn't to say that when someone asks for your details you should tell them everything from bank accounts to how many pets you have, but people shouldn't live behind fake identities because this is where problems arise, for example pedeophiles. I think as a normal person, you should know when its safe and necessary to use your correct details. I use my details to shop on Amazon and i even bank online. I trust these sites to keep my identity safe. Just thinking back to applying to University; the majority of that process was done online and even if it wasn't, you would still have to put down elements of your identity regardless and trust who's viweing it.

Ultimately i don't think its ethically wrong to withhold your identity when you dont trust where the information is going, but i do think its ethically wrong when a fake identity or no identity is used in chatrooms in particular. Just because you might be talking to someone who you'll never meet, this doesn't mean that you should change yourself, most people wouldn't do that put into a real life situation, so why do it online?