Unmasking Online Anonymity: A Qualitative Study of Czech Adults‘ Perceptions and Experiences

Anonymity is one of the most frequently invoked explanations for online behavior, yet we still do not know what it actually means for users. Existing research often reduces it to a technical non-identifiability that overlooks how it is subjectively experienced. However, it is this perceived anonymity that is likely to drive social and behavioral outcomes. Despite its theoretical importance, perceived anonymity is rarely examined from the users’ perspective. To address this gap, we explore how users understand anonymity in digital environments and what they consider necessary to “feel anonymous”. This qualitative study draws on six focus groups with a total of 21 Czech internet users (aged 18–54; M: 43%, F: 52%, Other: 5%) to examine perceptions of online anonymity. A thematic analysis revealed that participants understood anonymity not only as the absence of names or photos, but also as the lack of characteristics tied to one’s broader physical and mental context, encompassing both how someone lives and how they think. Trust strongly shaped perceptions of anonymity with close others. Anonymity was linked to confidentiality and privacy within trusted circles but became fragile as audiences widened. It was highly context-dependent and influenced by platform design and purpose. Although traditional anonymity (e.g., namelessness or invisibility) has not disappeared, identity-based network users often seek security not through non-identifiability but through confidentiality and privacy, forming a new kind of anonymity that is grounded in the same protective feeling. These insights may inform future research on the diverse effects of anonymity in digital contexts.