RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS-NYCU Study Reveals Real-Name Users May Be More Likely to Commit Online Exclusion-National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University
Source: https://www.nycu.edu.tw/nycu/en/app/news/view?module=headnews&id=623&serno=d5b4a485-e28f-4555-bde4-e9c7830806d7 Parent: https://www.nycu.edu.tw/nycu/en/app/news/list?module=headnews&id=623
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- Update Date：2025-12-19
- Units：Office of International Promotion and Outreach
NYCU Study Reveals Real-Name Users May Be More Likely to Commit Online Exclusion
Photo credit: Getty Images
\ Edited by Chance Lai\ ______
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’s Institute of Education has found that exclusionary cyberbullying does not only occur in anonymous settings. 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 “makes people cruel.”\ \ Real Names Don’t Stop Cyberbullying\ \ Led by Professor Yih-Lan Liu, the research team observed common exclusion-based forms of online aggression — such as removing members from group chats, blocking users, or deliberately ignoring others. These behaviors were especially prevalent among individuals exhibiting high levels of “Dark Triad” personality traits, which in psychology are associated with narcissism, manipulative tendencies, impulsivity, and low empathy.\
Professor Yih-Lan Liu of the Institute of Education presents research showing that online bullying can occur even without anonymity.\ \ 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.\ \ Strikingly, the study revealed that individuals high in Dark Triad traits tended to avoid open verbal arguments and instead opted for “direct exclusion”—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.
\ \ Dr. Cheng-Yan Wang presents findings on the developmental trajectories and psychological factors related to bullying and aggressive behaviors.\ \ Beyond Identity Checks: Designing Safer Online Platforms\ \ The research team notes that some individuals continue to behave as if they are “unseen” 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.\ \ 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.\ \ “This research reminds us that ensuring respectful online interaction requires more than authentic identity verification,” Liu said. “Understanding individual differences — and designing systems that anticipate them — is key to building healthier digital communities.”\ \
Group photo of the research team.
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