Wolters, Maria

Vaniea, Kami

Alshamrani, Amirah Abdulrahman

King Abdulaziz University/Saudi Cultural Bureau, Saudi Arabia

2024-10-24T09:36:50Z

2024-10-24T09:36:50Z

2024-10-24

There has been an ongoing debate concerning the impact of using real identities versus anonymity on the dynamics of online environments. Quora represents an interesting platform to study the interplay between identity and user behaviour, as a community question-answering system that combines strong identity and reputation mechanism with social aspects. In this thesis, I investigated how different forms of identity (real names, pseudonymity, and anonymity) affected posting behaviour using a mixed methods approach that emphasised the user perspective. The first two studies use pre-2021 data, when Quora still supported anonymous posting, while the final study uses data from 2023, after Quora eliminated anonymous posting and introduced pseudonymous profiles. The first part of my thesis focused on understanding disclosure in questions posted on Quora by examining the relationship between the use of the anonymity feature and posting behaviour regarding sensitive content. Building upon previous research, I focused on questions about anxiety disorders as a special case of sensitive content. Employing a content analysis methodology, I compared the language and content of posts from anonymous askers with those from known (non-anonymous) askers. I found that the main topics of concern were consistent across both groups; however, the level of personal disclosure, indicated by question framing, was associated with whether the askers were anonymous or known. I concluded that the anonymity feature on Quora allowed askers to seek adequate support for certain aspects of sensitive content. In the second part of my thesis, I broadened the scope of the investigation beyond sensitive content. Through an exploratory qualitative analysis of answers posted by Quora users, I established common reasons cited for posting anonymously on the platform. Findings highlighted how the aspect of reputation building associated with real identities could influence the use of the anonymity feature. Lastly, in the third part of the thesis, I investigated the effect of identity on posting decisions through a survey study, building on the qualitative insights from the prior analysis. Identity was operationalised as profile type (whether using real names or a pseudonym). Clear differences emerged in the overall posting tendencies among users with different profile types, motivating a post-hoc analysis to further understand their characteristics. I found that users with Quora-specific pseudonyms reported being less willing to post in general, whereas users with real names demonstrated the highest willingness to post. Moreover, through text answers, participants reflected on the nature of Quora as a social knowledge platform when providing reasons behind their views on anonymity. Qualitative analysis of text answers revealed insights into the nuances of posting behaviours. Those in favour emphasised its role in encouraging posting, particularly about sensitive and personal issues, while opponents raised issues of credibility. I found a difference in how anonymity is perceived as necessary for asking questions, due to privacy concerns, while it is less critical for answers, where credibility is considered more important.

https://hdl.handle.net/1842/42336

http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/5054

en

The University of Edinburgh

social media platforms

Quora

anonymous social media posting

reputation building

posting frequency

Privacy in question-answering systems: managing online identity and posting behaviour on Quora

Thesis or Dissertation

Doctoral

PhD Doctor of Philosophy