2026-10-13 · Sivis

Seven rules for protecting your identity when posting anonymously

The anonymous option hides your name, but what you write can still give you away. Seven practical rules for staying anonymous online.

Anonymity is a habit, not a button

When you tick “anonymous” on Sivis, your name, country and profile details are hidden from the message card. But what usually identifies people is not their name — it is the details they write. A workplace, a street, a recognisable event and a date are enough for someone who knows you.

The rules below apply to anywhere you write anonymously, not just Sivis.

Rules 1–3: cut the details

First, leave out places. “At my job” says the same thing as “at our office in Kadıköy” and is much harder to trace. Second, generalise time: “in a meeting” instead of “in this morning’s 9 o’clock meeting”. Third, do not make other people recognisable. Naming a friend, a manager or a teacher — or describing them closely — exposes them and you, and sharing someone else’s personal information breaks Sivis rules.

Rules 4–5: watch your voice

Fourth, avoid your signature phrases. Nicknames, catchphrases or a distinctive writing style can connect an anonymous post to you. Fifth, do not tell the same story in the same words on different sites; a simple search can link an anonymous post to your public account.

Rules 6–7: technical traces

Sixth, check screenshots and photos before posting: notifications, tab names and bits of maps at the edges reveal a lot. Photos can carry location and device data (EXIF); many apps strip it, but remove it yourself if unsure. Seventh, wait before posting. Angry messages are the ones with the most details; rereading after five minutes usually lets you remove one or two.

Anonymity does not remove responsibility

Posting anonymously does not cancel the consequences of what is said. Sivis rules apply to anonymous posts exactly as to named ones, and platforms must share records with the authorities when legally required. Use anonymity to be honest without fear — not to hurt someone.

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