The difference is that the government can't (yet) legally reverse your identity from your IP address and throw you in jail for having an anonymous discussion online.
But if you publicly said "my name is Joe and XYZ racist thing", people have the right to cancel you.
Historically this public/private distinction has been violated lots of times in the U.S., e.g., WWI, McCarthy. I don't think it's totalitarian; it's usually relatively limited. Most of the time, for most topics, the government leaves you alone and you can say what you damn well please.
But if you publicly said "my name is Joe and XYZ racist thing", people have the right to cancel you.
Historically this public/private distinction has been violated lots of times in the U.S., e.g., WWI, McCarthy. I don't think it's totalitarian; it's usually relatively limited. Most of the time, for most topics, the government leaves you alone and you can say what you damn well please.