Going Anonymous: Uses and Perceptions of Anonymous Social Media in an IT Organization

Anonymous social media provide opportunities and challenges for the organizations where they are used, but relatively little is known about how these tools are used and perceived by various types of organizational members. This paper reports preliminary findings from a survey of Microsoft employees using the anonymous smartphone application called Blind. Results suggest that this technology is used frequently for a variety of purposes related to seeking information, seeking support, and (less so) expressing opinions. The tool is seen as relatively useful and anonymous, but only moderately safe and trustworthy. Significant differences in perceived anonymity, perceived trust/safety, and use of the tool for seeking support are found based on frequency of use, as well as tenure, age, and hierarchical level of users. The paper offers theoretical and practical implications of findings and directions for further work in this emerging area.