"Online Identity Verification": For Or Against?

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

In a day and age where so many people use social media, both young and old and with the advancement of technology,I personally feel more websites should verify users identity.

I mean, you need a license to drive, buy Alcohol cigarettes, but people can get online and fake who they are, their age, their gender...

Not everyone on the internet is using it for bad... But there are a lot that do.

By verifying identity, there's so many things that if wouldn't totally stop, would definitely make it much harder to get away with....

Sexual Predators

There are an estimated 500,000 online predators active each day. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 are especially susceptible to be groomed or manipulated by adults they meet online. According to the F.B.I., over 50 percent of the victims of online sexual exploitation are between the ages of 12 and 15.

Most times sexual predators will portray themselves younger than they really are, the opposite gender of what they really are. By verifying Identity, not only would it make it more difficult for these people to falsify their age and gender, it would show if they're on a Sex Predator List.

Fake Accounts

People create fake accounts to both stalk people they really know or strangers on websites that they develope an unhealthy fixation on. If more websites made more people verify their identity, it would be harder to create/have fake accounts.

Bullying/Harassment

People create multiple, fake accounts to bully, harass, or try to chase people off of websites if they have different views, if they think the person is getting more attention than them(pretty petty) or for whatever reasons people have or use to justify trying to harass people. But by verifying identity, not only would it be easier to stop people from creating fake accounts, it would be easier to permanently ban those people.

Catfish

Some people prey on people lonely or desperate for love to catfish them either for sick amusement or sometimes to get money, gifts from people.

Now there's people that will say, feel that's censorship, but if proving/verifying identity stops people from breaking the law online, why would any legitimate person have an issue with protecting people online? Unless you one of those people that are guilty of using the internet for illegal, immoral purposes..

The internet can be both a priveledge and a right, but illegal activity is never a privilege or right, not even if it's "just the internet"....

As always, thank you for reading ❤️💛

"Brainsbeforebeauty"😘

[MasseurDeMojo]

The world of online identity is one that I am very well versed in. I have seen how the online world has developed from the days of the BBS, to the MUDs, to the IRCs, all the way to the Social Medias fo today. From the beginning you were always asked to identify who you were with a form of I. D. We have gone more away from that in the last 12 years. And now we are looking at it again , because we realize, it is a good method to help stop a lot of the problems we currently have online.

The problem I have, is when the Government makes it a Federal rule, enforced by the Federal Government. It should fall under Internet Security, and be controlled by a private organization that is run by the people, not the government. A lot of site on the internet already require a real I. D. in order to verify your account. That keeps all the kids off of the more adult sites; and it keeps the creeps off of the sites that are more for children. Some sites even have it set up for parents to be able to monitor their child's activities, and who they are friends. I went onto ROBLOX, because of two kids in my fathers house whom I wanted to monitor. I made friends with them, and was given access to all their friends, and activities. I am monitoring them, because there are a few predators that like to frequent the game, because they know their are a lot of kids on the game. ROBLOX understands this, and has set up a Parent Portal to keep an eye on your kids. While I am here; I to am responsible for what happens to the children in my fathers house. If you actually do look up ROBLOX on YouTube, you will find a lot of people who are calling out the hook up culture on ROBLOX, because they realize that there are a lot of kids in the game. This is a good reason why we need I. D. verification.

I am not for the government to be involved in this process. Only a very private, public organization. Someone who actually about keeping the internet safe for all; without taking away the rights of all!!

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Great great answer!! Agree💯 I'm not saying it should be government controlled. But any site where you have adult content yet have adults and also underage users, there should be verification. Again, great answer💯

[Jaumet]

I tend to agree that a form of "Online Identity Verification" would be a good thing and it would help cut back on the frequent abuse of the internet to harass, bully and hopefully discourage sexual predators. Looking at it from that perspective, I'm all like "Hell yeah, let's get this done!"

Though how it could be implemented... the closest thing I've seen as an attempt to do this is actually with Facebook and their use of your mobile phone number to tie you to your account. Facebook has been trying to become the defacto authentication service to be used to register with the different websites.

Though, you do have to take into account those people who can only post their views anonymously... or else face consequences from their Government, Religion, Company, Work place, Family or whatever organization they may feel they not only risk themselves but those they care about as well.

There are many things that go on in our world and we may never find out, expect for their ability to tell us without fear of any repercussions. It really is a very complex situation and there are ways to argue both sides. I would really love to stop people from abusing the internet and yet I don't want to silence people who can only share anonymously.

I've even read this one article that made a good point about anonymous posts being unverifiable and thus questionable at best. Then there is this list of reasons that people have for staying anonymous. Yet, we have to do something.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I like your answer. And I agree maybe there's issues with this idea but something needs to be done. People are getting too out of hand thinking anything online is acceptable but crimes are crimes, whether you use a computer to commit them or not.

[Jaumet]

Now, I am only talking about the abuse of SMS. This does not include or is even relevant to what crimes that are actually motivated by financial gain. These are the crimes that people are able to commit in order to either undermine, hold ransom or even blackmail people for the sole purpose to just gain financially from their actions.

You would be surprised at just how much damage a cyberattack on an entity can be and just how profitable it can actually be... I would be remiss in actually spelling things out and giving people ideas... but you don't have to actually have your target give you money... you just need to know ahead of time... that something will cause their stock prices to drop.

On social media sites... the bad actors, those people who abuse the internet to attack people online... are rarely motivated by the thought of financial gain. It is a power trip that they like to ride in feeling that they can control anyone they want into feeling however they want them to feel... with nothing more than some keystrokes.

Those are the people that we can actually do something to make a bit more unpleasant for them to do. Without that mask of anonymity and the realization... that no matter where they physically go... people would recognize them and hold them accountable for their actions... even if it is just by showing them their contempt for what they have done.

[Anonymous]

I grew up (am in my late 20s) with anonymous internet. I recall some of my first experiences online were me trolling in chatrooms (was copying other users who were trolling). I was young and just thought it was so hilarious to post stuff to get reactions even though I didn't mean what i was saying. I also remember having a MySpace page i tried to hide from my parents and i posted pics i thought were be trying to be hot (it was fully covered but me trying to do poses) and posting sexy edgy quotes or photos of hot girls like Briney Spears. I was trying to portray myself as hot and cool. I wanted to be popular in school and thought if they saw my MySpace they would like me more. Lol.

But all in all, i am too used to the anonymity of the internet that i would vote against ID verification. I do admit that i misused the anonymity growing up as a silly little girl and if i was a parent i would no want to let my kid do what i did at all. But as an adult, i often come online like here for advice as i have no friends or anyone to go to. I wouldn't want my real identity tied to my personal embarassing qustions.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

But only website admin would know real identity not the users of the site

[Opinion Owner]

There are plenty of evil site admins haha. They are not barred from selling info on the deep web. People in power positions can easily be psychopaths.

[Opinion Owner]

They can even make their own websites, create fake accounts on their own sites and then trick and harass people who have given them their real life information.

[AmandaYVR]

No, I'm against that. I'm very against data collection and us being sold as products, which will be an unfortunate byproduct of a well-intentioned idea.
(Not to mention identity theft and social engineering crimes.)

But I would kick more people off sites, close accounts, for infractions.
I think social sites want to/need to see large numbers of users, as it buoys their value as a company. But people who harass and act awful to other users - not necessarily just as trolls, but unfairly or unjustly - also have a hugely detrimental overall effect on the userbase and climate of a site. Too many good people leave on account of this. I don't like trying to convince them to stay, as I completely understand their reasoning.
Knowing this, I'd cut the dead weight, the instigators of discord, much more than what I witness as happening.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

But without identity verification... They can kick those people off and those people can just recreate new accounts as happens very often on here

[Isebdiegrv]

Love your idea and thats what my solution is: just ban people who are harassers. Its pretty simple. I block people all the time on platforms who even abuse me once. I already know nothing good will come from them so i cut it off at the root.

[Isebdiegrv]

Brains: just keep blocking and kicking the harassers fake accounts off.

[AmandaYVR]

Yeah I thought about writing that. It's true, it's a given. Kind of like a revolving door, to some extent.
But it is still a deterrent, an annoyance, for the user. He/she loses their points etc.

I got into a detailed tech discussion with some about the whole concept of blocking IPs and preventing users from re-opening. Long story short, I don't think that's feasible. Plus, it doesn't exactly benefit the company, to permanently shut down and lose users (even though, as I said above, it's a choice to value one type of user over another, and short-sighted, in my opinion.) They need to look at the climate of their site (s) holistically, not just numbers-based. (Although within the numbers categorizing and tracking, retention rate is also pivotal, but I presume prioritized lower down.)

Every closure is like reprimanding the user, saying "Uh uh, you behaved poorly, again, and here's the repercussion." It's not going to stop the most brazen, but it's also not nothing. (And don't those people need to have fresh email addresses?)

[MickeyMac]

Yes and No.

I very much agree with you, in the case of discouraging, or even catching, the rotten perverts that prey on preteen kids. Those sick people that can wake up the next day, and look themselves in the mirror, without having any qualms to what they're actually doing to these young people.. ugh.. the horrible thing? Sometimes, offenders have children living at home.. in the next damn room, at the same time they're surfing for kids the same age! For their own warped and twisted satisfaction of basically... Getting off on children. I just.. cannot comprehend how they CAN. Most KNOW what they are doing. That it's not something that they know is wrong, they know if they're caught, their life is ruined.. as well the lives of their own spouse and children will vicariously be made extremely hard for them. They know. They just don't give a damn, apparently. The remorse, when caught, is only for themselves, I rhink. How they say they've betrayed their own "claimed" principles and their own family.

They KNEW all that stuff before they were apprehended, but they're only remorseful precisely BECAUSE they were caught. Regarding my thoughts on Law and Order, I'm alllllways questioning authority. Authority isn't all that bad, honestly. It's just.. It's those who receive that power position that I will LOUDLY always question. I'm anti-authority if it's injustice, or if authority is used for political campaigns, or to fill a quota. The judgmental minds of of all around us sickens me. Authority figures that weren't the nicest people before, SHOULDN'T BE in their position. Stroking those egos make the types that display it with made acts with ulterior designs.. but... for the Child Molester, Ill minded Sick bastard types..

They are not ones I prefer to be counted with as a fellow citizen and human being. Although not a parent, I wouldn't want to be living next to one if I had children, that's for sure. They are classic "Release and Repeat" criminals.."Repeat SEXUAL Offenders" at that.

Whew!☺️ Anywho, I don't believe in Online Verification if the business or service requiring one really doesn't need one. Most are, to me, unnecessary. For online shopping, or anything that requires a card number at sign in, JUST to see if you are old enough to buy its product.. No, I don't think so. I'll go elsewhere.. I trust most sites with my info.. but for sites to deny your first VISIT just because you wanna be careful? Screw YOU, TOO! 😆 Verification codes FOR? Hell, I don't know. maybe make em OPTIONAL? We're the ones giving sites their traffic, their service rendered by us in one way or another, but they don't trust US?

It's not censorship, not at all. It's a way to beat around the growing desire of users applying a "Don't track me" browser.. you are giving them info that, web browser it not, they now can track your online purchases through the info you just gave em. It's not censorship, it's just another "Fork it over! No questions!" .. only this is the new way they're doing it...

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I get what you're saying... It's just the internet has gotten too or of hand with people thinking they can do whatever they want and it's okay, because it's just the internet but crime is crime whether you're using a computer to commit or not...
There has to be more they can do to keep the internet safe for users...

[MickeyMac]

That's why I back it 100% .. any Criminal element within the internet is just as much in the shadow as greedy data trackers. .. and their crimes could be labeled as being a "Personal Violation" upon the average citizen. Sneak thieves and devious, faceless cowards.. It is, in the end.. more like a compromise for me.. I back it with confidence, but at the same time, it's a wary confidence..

[TurboKid]

The tricky thing I find is that anonymity is both ripe for abuse but also protects the user from abuse.

>> Now there's people that will say, feel that's censorship, but if proving/verifying identity stops people from breaking the law online, why would any legitimate person have an issue with protecting people online? Unless you one of those people that are guilty of using the internet for illegal, immoral purposes..

In my case, while all my anonymous posts are not necessarily a shining beacon of civility and morality, even my most civil and moral ones are enough to get me in trouble with my job and even my entire career. I work in a part of the tech industry that tends to be excessively obsessed with political correctness.

Just expressing some of my more conservative views like my concerns with trans athletes participating in women's sports in a way that ties back to my identity is enough to be considered a serious PR problem for our products if our customers (which span in the millions for products with my name credited towards the top as lead engineer) found out about it.

So anonymity is often my veil of protection which allows me to voice my true thoughts, as I can with trusted friends close to me, without jeopardizing my career and having to think about PR all the time. There are many reasons I can see to want to protect our anonymity and privacy which do not abuse said privacy in order to violate laws... and especially so in an age where people can get canceled for merely expressing perfectly civil views that somehow manage to offend a small but very vocal and organized minority.

[caring__1]

I wish it was as easy as being for or against. It's not quite that simple. It would be great to block all fake identities, news and other false information. Unfortunately, the verification process could be used by tech companies and hackers to sell your personal information. I would love for any claim a person makes to be verified, but how would that be possible? It's easy to come up with fake documentation to prove anything. Unfortunately, the more you put into the system, the more the system can use this information against you. Privacy is important. If people aren't making a claim about how much money they make, there is no reason to verify their income and assets. I guess, if everyone got "Real ID" cards, we could link accounts to that "Real ID" number, but how could we prevent people from using other people's "Real ID?" If there were a simple, accurate way to verify a person's identity and claims, that would safeguard all personal information, I'd be all for it. I remember being at UCLA when the first Internet connection was made between UCLA and Stanford. Not even those involved at the time could imagine what we'd be dealing with today.

[Anpu23]

Im against it. I own an adult website and I already pay a small fortune for legal coverage, adding another legal burden just adds more expenses and complexity. Between cookie consent and 10 pages of legalese I have more legal then content. It's already frigging nuts.

If someone wants to hide their online identity there are legitimate reasons as well. People who are being stalked, harrased, bullied or threatened often make a fake account to reach out for help. Also I have lots of friends who have multiple Facebook accounts due to the over zealous banning bots. When people are being banned over something that they wrote 6 years ago and it isn't even offensive a second account makes sense. Also many celebrities have multiple accounts one for friends and family another as a public account for fans.

And lastly nothing connectsd to a communication line is secure. Accounts can be hacked, data breaches are real and do you really want someone extorting you over your porn account viewing history? Someone creates an account without realizing the full risk of that account, at least a level of anonymity is fair.

[Lliam]

Excellent reasoning, Anpu23. I agree with you.

[genericname85]

you should always consider that "protection and help" are always the fassade that the cruelest shit is committed behind. you know hitler only wanted to "protect the german people" and we all know how that ended... if you really wanna know where online identity leads, look at china. listen to edward snowden. he is currently in exile, because he has made those things public.

in china they right now are celebrating their natrional crypto-curreny, which sounds progresssive, untill you realize that they can litterally see everything that you ever bought with that currency and basically know everything about you. additionally they have ai public surveyllance systems, that can identify people everywhere and watch their every step. they have introduced a "social point system", where you start out with a set amount of points. if you missbehave, for example you drop trash in the streets, you j-walk or stuff like that, points are subtracted. if a certain amount of points are subtracted, you lose rights. you can't use certain public services anymore.

it is extremely easy to lose points and extremely difficult/expensive to earn points back. for them, the completely transparent citizien is a reality there.

i know, your argument is: but what do you have to lose if you don't do anything wrong. and to that i HIGHLY suggest you read the novel 1984. cause chinas reality is worse than that and our reality is making huge strides towards the same.

[genericname85]

what you give up is individual freedom and independence. if those things are of no value for you, then you sould support online identity verification. i mean we can only have certain conversations on here thanks to relative anonymity... that's not generally a bad thing.

[Sargentcaptain]

I highly doubt that cops have a real problem with finding out predator's real identities, so crime prevention is a mute point. Individuals have a right to privacy, just like wearing a mask in public, hiding someone's identity is a fundamental human right. The 'only wrongdoers need to be worried' rhetoric is extremely moronic, especially after all the nonsense about the Patriot act was revealed. The government should not know who just random people who are not committing crimes are, otherwise the doors to an extremely authoritarian hellscape are wide open. You don't have a right not to be bullied/trolled/have your feelings hurt. It is just the internet, whether you like the response or not. You can just walk mute or block people you don't like or just walk away from the device and live in the real world. People should not be punished for having arguments or insulting each other, this is goes against the right to free speech. Requiring a license for something such as driving which can easily lead to deaths, especially if you are not thought how to drive, is not remotely comparable to just using the internet.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

The internet isn't used to find targets for child trafficking? People haven't been tracked through online hacking and targeted, attacked or killed IRL?

[Sargentcaptain]

Where the hell did you read that? I said "I highly doubt that cops have a real problem with finding out predator's real identities, so crime prevention is a mute point."

I sand by that. I do not believe that the cops will find it all that difficult to find out the real identities (trough IP address I assume) of criminals, nor do I believe that having your real identity out in public view will really stop a single instance of criminal activity.

[Cynicaldreamer]

I actually wouldn't be opposed to certain apps, forums, and sites having an identity verification. BUT, make it optional, not required.

But those with verified accounts would have more perks than say someone not verified.

Let's use GaG for instance-
The site could allow users to send them a copy of their license or ID to verify their age and/or gender. Those verified would get a tag or badge next to their avatar/profile picture showing said person is legit and their information is true.
For verified users over 18, they can have access to view and ask adult questions.

There would be NO penalties for people that refuse, but at least it would cut back on catfishes and some predators.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Great minds... I agree and it would also cut down on people falsely accusing others of being fake, which I meant to include but forgot. Love and agree💯 to the must verify for sexual content and would also stop people from using the excuse they didn't know the users real age

[coachTanthony]

This came up in my feed. GAG must be telling me something. I tried to create a Linkedin account with my pen name so I could keep my professional corporate life separate from my date coaching life and they blew me up immediately and deleted it. Not to mention many dating sites now have blue check mark verification for you to use so that you can prove it's you.

I think there should be something in place at all times. Most sites though verify you through facebook or google which let's be real that could be a fake google or FB account. How much info do we want to put out there just to verify ourselves and hope and pray that info doesn't get stolen? It's a fine line between soup and stew for sure!

~Coach T Anthony @thedatecoach IG

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I agree with you. And no it's not the whiskey talking lolol

[coachTanthony]

Ha Ha Ha thanks

[Craftsman]

While it makes a lot of sense to verify users in any medium, whether it be driving ability, age to purchase items, voting, and access levels in the work environment, it can be taken a bit too far. Asking "Are your papers in order?" worked in Germany between 1935 and 1945, though perhaps it was more extreme that we would tolerate today.
A balance is needed. Too much information gathered by websites could lead to identity thefts and crimes if and when the website gets hacked. Too little, as you point out, lets the creeps, perverts, and criminal elements too loose. Where to find that middle ground is the Question of Great Importance, to which I do not have the answer, nor, it seems, does anyone else.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Well said!

[TheSpaceGnome]

There isn't a way to do a middle ground, if you want complete safetey online, use a vpn, and dont use your name, location, birthday, ss number, etc on anything on your computer, and use linux distros bent on privacy like pure os.

the issue isn't a lack of monitoring, it's too much monitoring, we are already dangerously close to the germany papers analogy, the creeps only know where your kid is because someone on your computer typed that info in. SO DON'T TYPE IT.

by the way, the government are the highest risk creeps.

[ohshee]

In a perfect world that's a great idea we know our world is not perfect even our higher-ups government, businesses, anybody with an agenda could and would use this information to either gain or Target you for their agendas in a perfect world it sounds great but in the world we live in is too much information put it in the hands of the wrong people I believe maybe a system with an IP address but that's still giving somebody information about where you live so I'm sure there is a better way for all the above we just haven't figured it out yet

[NightHawk99]

So many people have lied about who they are on the internet. It ruins lives as well as ends them. I am a victim of such lies and still feel the pain from the wounds they made to this day. Unfortunately, anyone can create fake accounts and make false information to get passed ID verification requirements. Plus witb so much digital info required, you make yourself vulnerable to hackers, no matter hiw guaranteed your safety is. I honestly can't decide here... Despite how badly I want to say I'm for it.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I can understand that

[ecfresh]

While there are many advantages to having an online verification system I see disadvantages because that will be more restrictive and allow more control by the government. There are certainly ways to better secure and regulate online behavior but I’m not yet in favor of letting someone have a record 20 years from now that shows some of my porn searches: maybe in 20 years I will decide to run for Congress and that record could limit future success.


Bottom line I am against online ID but would be in favor of continued innovation to help keep our information safe.

[purplepoppy]

I agree with most of what your saying but allowing people to remain anon allows them to express opinions they would be too frightened to say publicly. This makes it easier for the government to keep track of the number of potentially dangerous people out there. Should they need to find out who you actually are it's very easy for them anyway.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

👍👍👍

[lolman95]

If you want to help children, give parents access to their data in restrictive manner like their friends list, chat history, their search history etc. A lot of people will disagree mentioning how it will be an invasion of privacy. So for those think about it: if handing over your private info to your trusted guardians worries you a lot and encroaches your freedom, just imagine handing them off to politicians and businessmen who have no intentions of caring about your self interest. You might not realize but your information on internet is being used for altering your mindset or running political campaigns. Forcefully extracting private info ( no matter how basic you think they are) is pretty bad idea.
Reminds me of the oversimplified russian revolution video quote:"to kill a rabbit, he handed guns to a bear, A BOLSHEVIK BEAR!"

[kespethdude]

Question to you... does your proposal have any possible protection against identity theft? Because, as it's written now, that's exactly what's going to happen if it's implemented. I normally agree with you on most things, but I can't agree with this as it's currently written.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I mean if a website requires verification, then they should also take steps to protect their users PII

[ImSparkly]

For. Facebook, Google and other social media already know more about me than the government so why not? Also, If you want to say something controversial, you shouldn’t be able to hide behind anonymous or fake names.


US intelligence agencies already buy consumer reports for data on subjects or potential subjects.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

👍👍👍

[ImSparkly]

Bring back integrity, it’s such a quaint concept.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Right!! This is the internet excuse not only is stupid it's dangerous because people are using that justification to cross the line from immoral to illegal

[madgoat]

I agree with verification of identity and for people being responsible for what they say and do.
I'm not sure you need to censor unverified accounts so much as make it clear that they are anonymous or verified. Perhaps you then have the option to filter a particular site accordingly.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I agree with this

[Hxxmx]

I like this idea a lot.
But there should be like an option to remain anonymous, which should be exclusive to those that pass the verification.
Because remaining anonymous has been the most interesting part of the internet for me.
It is more like a getaway spot for most people.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

I agree with that. It's not so that little can't use the sites anonymously, more to stop fake accounts, fake ages, fake gender to keep it safer for it's users, especially on sites where there's young users

[DaveToo]

There are multiple identifying numbers that are assigned to us during our lifetimes. We have social security numbers given us almost at birth, a driver's license number, or a DMV identification number. You have a library card number, a college id number, a bank account number, and so on. It would make sense to me to be assigned one number at birth and that number will be used throughout your life for whatever venue you're dealing with.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

That would make sense

[humanearth]

Mark of the beast. Amish had it right from the start

[DaveToo]

@humanearth And they shall place upon their foreheads the mark of the beast. 666.

[exitseven]

Nexts tep after that is having implantable chips with our personal info on it.

[humanearth]

@exitseven they are pushing real hard for that

[AnnaNdaHouse]

Most sites have a way to link profiles like from here I sign from Google, I would say I have to agree to an extent after blocking two people after just a week, if their identity is on here, if even only stored I certainly think it would make people act better! Although those two accounts may have been the one person I feel that the ease of account setup is the biggest thing for trolls and creeps it's a bit unfair to everyone else!

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Exactly!! And meant to mention it would also stop petty people from falsely accusing others of being fake if they're identity has been verified

[AnnaNdaHouse]

Not seen that but I think it's another good example of why it should be done.

[Brainsbeforebeauty]

Agree