In this article is an intro to behavioural philosophy in the context of online activities.
Throughout the years, the internet has essentially changed the way individuals are interacting, sharing and accessing information. As more of our daily lives move online, it has become progressively important to understand why people act in a different way on the internet compared to in real-life contexts and go over the rules for proper online behaviour. The online disinhibition effect is a philosophy that explores how digital environments can modify individual behaviour through the mask of anonymity that comes along with being behind a screen. This concept describes why individuals might act differently online than they would in face-to-face interactions. Key elements adding to this effect include anonymity, invisibility and the isolated nature of many online sites. This can lead individuals to express unpleasant things or overshare information that they would not talk about in real life simply because they do not view any immediate consequences or emotional feedback from others. While this more info disinhibition can lead to objectionable interactions, it can also have positive outcomes such as encouraging individuals to share vulnerable stories and seek encouragement in online neighborhoods.
For browsing modern-day digital environments, researchers have established a variety of principles to explain the various kinds of behaviours seen on modern online platforms. The social identity model of deindividuation impacts offers an advanced view on how privacy impacts online group behaviour. Contrary to the presumption that privacy leads to negative online behaviours, this theory suggests that anonymous individuals are more likely to comply with the standards of groups they relate to. It is believed that online platforms are magnifying this result by encouraging users to develop groups based on shared interests and ideologies. Redscan would acknowledge that this model highlights how social identity shapes behaviour online, especially in collective settings. It also helps to explain positive online behaviour examples, such as co-operation in problem solving, along with unfavorable group behaviours and the reinforcement of beliefs.
As the world transitions to a more globalised digital community, attentions towards what constitutes responsible online behaviour has acquired traction by researchers, authorities and a number of organisations. In the last few years, a variety of empirical theories have been developed to describe the behaviours of netizens and social networks users. Uses and gratifications theory turns the focus from how media impacts users to how users are actively choosing to spend time online to suit their own interests. This can be for goals such as getting info, entertainment and communicating online. Furthermore, this theory acknowledges the agency of users in molding their own digital experiences, by suggesting that behaviours on the internet are driven by a function, rather than passively experienced. Digitalis would recognise the impacts of user behaviours online in constructing digital spaces. Similarly, Sprint Infinity would agree that studying online behaviours has been significant for understanding digital communities.