There is just something so calming about math and numbers. No matter what is changing in your life, math is always going to be a constant. You’re not going to wake up one morning to suddenly find that 1 + 1 suddenly = 5!
There’s been a lot of change in my life through growing up, and so I found solace in numbers.
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People are becoming more and more unsure about whether or not SurveyMonkey is actually anonymous. Surveys that are carried out via SurveyMonkey are not anonymous.
When you sign up to complete a survey via SurveyMonkey, your email and IP address will be collected.
However, there is some complication attached to this. Participants who complete a self-created survey will have the ability to be anonymous to the person who is collecting the data.
Let’s have a look in more detail at whether SurveyMonkey is anonymous.
SurveyMonkey’s Data Privacy Measures: A Closer Look
In the digital age, data privacy has become a paramount concern for individuals and businesses alike. As one of the leading online survey tools, SurveyMonkey is no exception to this rule. The platform handles a vast amount of sensitive data daily, making its data privacy measures a topic of significant interest.
SurveyMonkey’s commitment to data privacy is evident in its comprehensive privacy policy, which outlines how the platform collects, uses, and protects user data. The policy is designed to comply with various international data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States.
One of the primary ways SurveyMonkey ensures data privacy is through its data collection practices. When a user signs up to complete a survey, certain information such as the user’s IP address and email address is collected. However, this information is typically not accessible to the data collector, which means the survey responses can remain anonymous to the person or organization conducting the survey. This practice helps protect the identity of the respondents and ensures the confidentiality of their responses.
Data Encryption
In addition to this, SurveyMonkey employs robust security measures to protect the data it collects. These measures include encryption of data during transmission and storage, use of secure server networks, and implementation of strict access controls. The platform also conducts regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential security risks.
SurveyMonkey also provides users with control over their data. Users can access, update, or delete their personal information at any time. They can also opt out of certain data collection and use practices. For instance, users can choose not to receive promotional communications from SurveyMonkey and can opt out of having their survey responses used for benchmarking or other research purposes.
Furthermore, SurveyMonkey is transparent about its data sharing practices. The platform only shares user data with third parties in specific circumstances, such as when it’s necessary to provide the service or comply with legal requirements. SurveyMonkey also requires its service providers to adhere to strict data protection standards.
However, it’s important to note that while SurveyMonkey takes extensive measures to ensure data privacy, no system can be completely secure. Therefore, users should also take steps to protect their data, such as using strong passwords and being cautious about the personal information they share in survey responses.
Who Will See The Survey Results?
There are a few factors involved when it comes to how anonymous a survey is as there are three different sets of people involved in the data collection. These are:
- Data collector
- Data provider
- Platform provider
The data collector is the person who is looking for some data to collect from people. The data collector usually will be the person who creates the survey on SurveyMonkey (You might also want to check out Is Survey Junkie Legit?).
Sometimes, if the survey is sent via an email, you should check if there is a tracker on the email or not. If there is a tracker on the email, they will more easily be able to find out who you are.
As well as this, as the data provider, you may have been asked some questions that will help the data collector to narrow down who you are, or where you are.
For example, they may ask what your department is, what your name is, what role you are playing in the company, and so on.
Is A Data Collector Anonymous?
In most cases, a data collector will not be able to see the information that is collected about you, like your email or phone number. However, this information does exist on the database and so it does exist.
If something comes up that needs to be reported to law enforcement agencies or used as evidence in the court of law, then SurveyMonkey’s staff members will be able to access this information.
Due to this, the information is not fully anonymous to data collectors.
Are Data Providers Anonymous?
When you are providing your data, your IP address and email address will be stored by SurveyMonkey. However, if the data collector does not access this information, then you should be anonymous.
However, it has also been proven that there are trackers available on the webpages when you are carrying out your data collection.
There is also a lot of evidence surrounding the idea that data collectors can access the information if they want to.
Survey’s have often been used as a tool to identify employees who are disgruntled and annoyed. This means that they are not at all anonymous.
How To Find Out If Your Survey Is Anonymous
As mentioned above, one way to find out if a survey is anonymous or not is by checking the trackers attached to the survey. Having a look at your browser can help you to identify this or not.
There are a few different ways to look for trackers. These are:
- Look out for simple URLs and watch the URL for additional data. Usually, these URLs could be tracking things like your email address. If you notice on the URL that there is anything after the ‘?’, then this is information that is being collected and hidden away.
- If you have received the survey through your email, you should check if email tracking is enabled.
- Make sure that the survey itself doesn’t ask for any information that can be used to track you.
Are Surveys Supposed To Be Anonymous?
If you are collecting information that may be sensitive or personal, surveys should be anonymous, or at least have the option of being.
If you give the respondent a chance to be anonymous in the survey, it will make the respondent feel as if they are being respected and valued. It is a great way to listen to people without them feeling like they are being harmed.
Benefits Of Anonymous Surveys
Anonymous surveys help companies to gather feedback that is true and is being provided honestly. People are much more likely to tell the truth if there is a guarantee that they will remain anonymous.
Anonymous surveys also allow people to give their feedback and opinion without being judgemental. It will also build up trust, allowing you to value privacy.
Survey Collectors Privacy Policy
All survey collectors create their own policy when it comes to privacy. This is a policy regarding how they are able to use the identifying information.
When you are using a survey provider, you should read this policy in order to determine whether or not the survey is able to identify you.
If the way that data is collected is not disclosed on the privacy policy, make sure that you contact the company to find out whether or not the survey is anonymous.
How Can You Create An Anonymous Survey?
BlockSurvey is a great way for you to create an anonymous survey. It allows you to create surveys that are completely anonymous.
There are no IP addresses provided and no trackers attached to any of the surveys. You are in control of your data if you use BlockSurvey.
Follow the below steps to create an anonymous survey:
- Make sure that you use the right platform where you are the only one with access to the data. The site you are using to create the survey should not have any access to the data (Also check out the How To Create A Podcast Survey).
- Make sure that the site is not using anything that can track you.
- Ensure that the survey does not ask for any information that will help in identifying you.
- Make sure that your sample size (Also check out What Does n Mean In Statistics?) is large enough to ensure that the people remain anonymous.
- Use QR codes to send out the survey, rather than sending them directly to an email address.
FAQs
Is SurveyMonkey Anonymous for Paid Subscriptions?
Can SurveyMonkey Track IP Addresses?
What Measures Does SurveyMonkey Take to Ensure Anonymity?
Can SurveyMonkey Surveys Be Traced Back to the Respondent?
How Does SurveyMonkey Handle Data Privacy and Security?
What Alternatives to SurveyMonkey Offer Better Anonymity?
Maintaining Anonymity: Practical Tips
In the age of digital information, maintaining anonymity while participating in online surveys can be a challenge. However, with a few practical tips, you can ensure your responses remain anonymous and your personal information secure.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN): A VPN is a service that protects your internet connection and privacy online by creating an encrypted tunnel for your data, hiding your IP address, and allowing you to use the internet more privately and securely. By using a VPN, you can prevent your IP address from being tracked when you complete online surveys.
Avoid Providing Unnecessary Personal Information: When completing surveys, only provide the information that is absolutely necessary. If a survey asks for personal details that don’t seem relevant to the survey’s purpose, it’s best to skip that question. Remember, the more personal information you share, the easier it is to identify you.
Use Incognito Mode:
Most web browsers offer an ‘incognito’ or ‘private’ mode. When you browse in incognito mode, your browsing history, cookies, and site data are not saved, providing an extra layer of privacy.
Create a Separate Email Account for Surveys: If you frequently participate in online surveys, consider creating a separate email account specifically for this purpose. This can help keep your primary email account secure and reduce the risk of spam or unwanted emails.
Read Privacy Policies: Before participating in a survey, take the time to read the platform’s privacy policy. This will give you a better understanding of how your data will be used and what measures the platform takes to protect your data.
Be Wary of Surveys Offering High Rewards: While it can be tempting to participate in surveys offering high rewards, these can often be a red flag. Scammers may use the promise of high rewards to lure individuals into providing personal information. Always ensure the survey is from a reputable source before participating.
Check for Secure Connections: When participating in online surveys, ensure that the website uses a secure connection. You can check this by looking for ‘https’ at the beginning of the website URL. The ‘s’ stands for ‘secure’ and indicates that the data you send to the site is encrypted.
Final ThoughtsÂ
SurveyMonkey is not completely anonymous. If you look for it, though, you will be able to find anonymity and privacy in surveys. Consider using BlockSurvey if you are looking for complete anonymity.
Expert Opinions:
Here are three expert opinions on data privacy:
- Kate Ruane, Senior Legislative Counsel for the First Amendment and Consumer Privacy at the American Civil Liberties Union: Kate emphasizes the vast amounts of data being collected about individuals and the potential harm that can come from its misuse. She advocates for stronger consumer data privacy laws that give individuals control over their data. Read More
- Amie Stepanovich, Executive Director at the Silicon Flatirons Center at Colorado Law: Amie discusses the disjointed nature of current privacy laws in the US, which tend to focus on specific types of data or populations. She suggests that comprehensive federal laws would be more effective. Read More
- Ashkan Soltani, Independent Researcher and Former Chief Technologist at the Federal Trade Commission: Ashkan highlights the lack of transparency in the data ecosystem, which prevents consumers from understanding the flow of their information. He supports stronger enforcement of privacy regulations. Read More