Tentative Introductory Paragraph

Introduction: Define “Anonymous.”

The creation and worldwide implementation of the Internet in the past two decades has given rise to impressive amounts of information exchange. From music, to speeches, to videos, to ideas, the accessibility of opinions, information and resources has increased tenfold. Blogs, forums, chat rooms, social networking and a plethora of other sites are available with the click of a button; though some fear this mass proliferation and sharing of files and ideas is just noise in an increasingly vocal environment, others believe that the Internet is the key to a brave new world. Among these digital Quixotes are Anonymous, the nebulous organization that has popularized hacktivism, which is defined by TIME magazine as the usage of “invasive tech skills to advance a cause and leak information¹.” As one of the most high-profile hacktivist organizations in the modern world, Anonymous raises many questions. Who are they? What do they want? How do they organize? These questions are not easily answered. By analyzing Anonymous' recent actions and propaganda, one can begin to form a picture of who Anonymous are and what they are becoming. From its inception as a loosely-built nebula of dissenters to its formation into a strong and frightening Internet juggernaut, Anonymous has changed its goals from “for the lulz²” to a more cohesive and organized objective; that of reforming the society that precipitated its creation.

1 Steinmetz and Townsend.

2LULZ- a bastardization of “lol,” which is an acronym for “laughing out loud.” Often used in the context of schadenfreude.