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**Source**: https://www.nycu.edu.tw/nycu/en/app/openData/news/data?module=headnews&serno=d5b4a485-e28f-4555-bde4-e9c7830806d7&type=xml&id=623
**Parent**: https://www.nycu.edu.tw/nycu/en/app/news/view?module=headnews&id=623&serno=d5b4a485-e28f-4555-bde4-e9c7830806d7

<![CDATA[NYCU Study Reveals Real-Name Users May Be More Likely to Commit Online Exclusion]]>Office of International Promotion and Outreach2025-12-19<![CDATA[<div class="ed\_model08 clearfix">
<div class="ed\_pic\_full"><img alt="NYCU Study Reveals Real-Name Users May Be More Likely to Commit Online Exclusion" src="/userfiles/nycuen/images/20251219100813375.png" /></div>
<div class="ed\_pic\_full" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:90%;"><em>Photo credit: Getty Images</em></span></span></div>
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<strong>Edited by Chance Lai</strong><br />
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<div class="ed\_txt" style="text-align: justify;">Is anonymous trolling really the main culprit of online bullying? New research from National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) suggests the answer is more complicated. A research team at NYCU&rsquo;s Institute of Education has found that <strong>exclusionary cyberbullying does not only occur in anonymous settings</strong>. In fact, individuals using their real names may be even more likely to exclude others in online interactions, overturning long-held public assumptions that anonymity is what &ldquo;makes people cruel.&rdquo;<br />
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<strong>Real Names Don&rsquo;t Stop Cyberbullying</strong><br />
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Led by Professor Yih-Lan Liu, the research team observed common exclusion-based forms of online aggression &mdash; such as removing members from group chats, blocking users, or deliberately ignoring others. These behaviors were especially prevalent among individuals exhibiting high levels of &ldquo;Dark Triad&rdquo; personality traits, which in psychology are associated with narcissism, manipulative tendencies, impulsivity, and low empathy.<br />
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<div class="ed\_pic\_full"><img alt="Professor Yih-Lan Liu of the Institute of Education presents research showing that online bullying can occur even without anonymity." src="/userfiles/nycuen/images/20251219101020105.png" /><em><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:90%;">Professor Yih-Lan Liu of the Institute of Education presents research showing that online bullying can occur even without anonymity.</span></span></em><br />
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The study recruited 115 adult participants to join LINE discussion groups as part of a social interaction simulation. By introducing controlled conflicts into the discussions, the research team observed which participants were most likely to engage in exclusionary behavior during online interactions.<br />
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Strikingly, the study revealed that individuals high in Dark Triad traits tended to avoid open verbal arguments and instead opted for &ldquo;direct exclusion&rdquo;&mdash;such as calling for votes to remove a member from the chat simply because of disagreement. Even more unexpected: these exclusion behaviors appeared more frequently under real-name conditions, demonstrating that online aggression does not require anonymity.</div>
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<img alt="Dr. Cheng-Yan Wang presents findings on the developmental trajectories and psychological factors related to bullying and aggressive behaviors." src="/userfiles/nycuen/images/20251219101239989.png" /><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><span style="font-size:90%;"><em>Dr. Cheng-Yan Wang presents findings on the developmental trajectories and psychological factors related to bullying and aggressive behaviors.</em></span></span><br />
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<strong>Beyond Identity Checks: Designing Safer Online Platforms</strong><br />
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The research team notes that some individuals continue to behave as if they are &ldquo;unseen&rdquo; online even when identified by real names, suggesting that the sense of anonymity can function as a psychological driver rather than being imposed solely by platform settings.<br />
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The findings demonstrate that online exclusion arises from an interaction between personality traits and situational factors, rather than anonymity alone. Professor Liu emphasized that real-name policies alone are insufficient to suppress cyberbullying, urging platforms to strengthen behavior-detection systems, establish transparent group-management rules, and promote user education to enhance online safety.<br />
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&ldquo;This research reminds us that ensuring respectful online interaction requires more than authentic identity verification,&rdquo; Liu said. &ldquo;Understanding individual differences &mdash; and designing systems that anticipate them &mdash; is key to building healthier digital communities.&rdquo;<br />
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<img alt="Group photo of the research team." src="/userfiles/nycuen/images/20251219102636100.png" /></div>
<div><span style="color:#4e5f70;"><em><span style="font-size:90%;">Group photo of the research team.</span></em></span></div>
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</div>]]>https://www.nycu.edu.tw/nycu/en/app/news/image?module=headnews&detailNo=1451397194388082688&init=Ycover image