Online anonymity magnifies fear by making any bystander a potential attacker

Evidence

Online Islamophobic hate messages can be sent anonymously or by using a false identity, making it extremely difficult to identify the offender. The anonymity aspect in cases of online Islamophobic hate abuse is extremely frightening as the perpetrator could be anyone. — Irene Zempi and Imran Awan, Islamophobia, 227

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to Simmel/urban-stranger material on how city dwellers must read strangers from minimal cues — anonymity here inverts that skill into ambient threat.