Anonymous Chats: The Mental Health Tool You’re Overlooking
Has a stranger even opened up to you and told you something deeply personal? Have you ever noticed it’s easier to text a friend about a difficult topic rather than tell them in person? People are less inhibited when talking to strangers or texting rather than having a face-to-face conversation. We feel more confident, less reserved, and are able to express ourselves better without feeling self-conscious or fearing judgment. Anonymous chat apps like Antiland are a freeing way for people to make friends, vent about their problems, get advice, or even try a new type of online dating, all while feeling the security and privacy of anonymity.
The Benign Online Disinhibition Effect
People in anonymous chat rooms tend to be less inhibited and have fewer boundaries, allowing them to share more than they usually would face to face or with people they know. When people feel more comfortable sharing personal details about their lives and opening up to share their emotions and even acts of kindness, it’s called the benign online disinhibition effect. Someone may feel awkward talking about a sensitive problem to their friend, but it’s often easier to share on an anonymous chat app. When using an anonymous chat app, many people find that they want to help others and are happy to listen to their vents and give advice when asked. On Antiland, you can connect with other users and be your most authentic self without worrying about judgment. You create your online persona, choosing your username and avatar; any other details you choose to share in a chat are up to you.
Why Be Anonymous?
According to a Cyberpsychology article, anonymity creates an environment where people feel more comfortable sharing intimate details of their lives, allowing them to form deep interpersonal relationships with others online, which are “no less significant and intimate than face-to-face relationships.” When anonymous, people may feel less self-awareness and social anxiety and feel able to express themselves more authentically because the “consequences of negative social interactions are reduced,” which “allows people to express themselves with greater ease and freedom than they would otherwise.” Because on Antiland, users control what they disclose about themselves, from choosing an avatar to being completely anonymous. It gives them a chance to be more intimate and open with other users.
Connecting During Social Distancing
As people are working from home, taking online classes, and unable to travel, making friends online is more important than ever before for mental health to prevent loneliness. Making friends online is no less “real” than making friends in person. A Psychological Science article found that “relationships started and maintained online are as stable and deep as relationships offline and that instant messaging and other communication technologies help people maintain relationships.” Being lonely can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression, but chatting with strangers in Antiland is a way to make friends and connect.
A True Confidant
Talking to another person while being anonymous can help you get to know yourself better, exploring the parts of yourself you would generally keep hidden. Sometimes you just need someone to talk to you, to vent about a problem with one of your friends or an issue at work, someone who is not involved, and you have complete confidentiality and privacy. You can share your deepest secrets and not have any worry that it’ll “get out” because the person you’re talking to doesn’t even know your name or where you live. You can talk about your friends, family, and coworkers without feeling guilt.
A Place to Share Your Thoughts
How often do you get the chance to say what you “really” think, give your honest opinion? When making friends or dating on an anonymous chat app, you can let go of the initial awkwardness, unfair first impressions based on physical appearance, self-consciousness, and really let your guard down. It’s a chance to be 100 percent yourself. Imagine being able to share your deepest fears and anxieties or tell someone about a personal experience without worrying about feeling awkward next time you see them or wondering if they’ll think of you differently.
Give and Get Real Advice
One of the benefits of joining an anonymous chat is being able to get honest feedback from people that are objective. Sometimes friends, family, and coworkers tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear because they’re afraid of hurting our feelings. When you’re friends with someone, it’s hard to see both sides of an issue. We often want to side with our friends and are biased. The truth can be hard to hear but often necessary for personal growth. Asking a friend if you should get back with your ex is going to be hard because they’re not completely impartial if they know both of you. They just want you to be happy. If you tell a stranger the situation, it often can give you a neutral point of view which can help you make a better decision with these sorts of issues.
How Being Anonymous Helps
Optimist Minds finds that talking to someone anonymously can be a great substitute for therapy. Therapy can be expensive, and getting an appointment can take weeks. When you need to speak to someone right now while still having the confidentiality, privacy, objectivity, and zero judgment that therapy provides, starting an anonymous chat with a stranger can help. Many people go to therapy because they need someone to talk to that’s not their friends or family. It’s a safe space to let go and feel your feelings. In Antiland, you can vent about whatever is bothering you, talk about what is giving you anxiety or making you feel depressed, all while not having to worry about your message history or privacy; the messages self-destruct.
A New Way to Date Online
Most dating apps today are based on looks; the first impression you see is a picture. You can swipe left or swipe right based on their initial level of attractiveness. In reality, people’s personalities are what actually makes them attractive, not just their physical appearance. Someone you thought was “hot,” if they don’t have a great personality, may seem less attractive once you get to know them. On Antiland, you can meet people locally or try international dating while just talking first. When dating on an anonymous app, you get to know someone on a deeper level before even knowing their first name.
Why Antiland?
Antiland is a top-rated app on both the Apple Appstore and Google Play, with nearly 30 million users worldwide and over 32 languages to chat in. Antiland won the Social Impact Startup Award at the 2019 Silicon Valley Open Doors Technology Investment Conference (SVOD). The SVOD focuses on companies making an impact through high-tech innovation. Droidholic ranked Antiland as one of the top eight best chat apps to send anonymous messages. You can choose to talk to strangers from all over the world or invite people from your contact list to have a private chat. Create your own avatar and build your persona. You can explore different aspects of your personality and find out who you really are. It’s a chance to connect with people you’ll never meet in person (unless you choose to), expand your worldview, and maybe even fall in love.