In today’s society and the online culture, people chose to share and post thoughts and actions that would have been considered far too private only a couple of years ago.
Particularly Facebook has become an arena for people to display themselves for the better and expose private and revealing details and content that should not be online, public for everyone. With the growth and development of social media, comes a myriad of discussions about the privacy of social networking sites.
Pearson (2009) argues how people are using social networking sites as a stage for online socialising and performance, and relates this to the metaphor of the glass bedroom. What should be private and exclusive of everyone has become visible for all to observe through photos and conversations. Everyone can view each other’s life and self-presentations. Why are most social networkers willing to share, express and communicate details and information through their glass bedroom, when in person we often reveal private thoughts and feelings only with our closest friends and family?
In today’s society, access to information is a key element of status power (Donath & Boyd, 2004). It seems like the more you expose yourself and your privacy, the more interesting you become for other people online. There is always a risk with online exposition. Privacy and self-presentation online should be just like when we try on clothes in a fitting room. Would you leave the door open, so everyone could see you?
Donath, J. and Boyd, D. (2004). Public Displays of Connection. BT Technology Journal,Volume 22 (4): 71-82.
Pearson, E. (2009). All the World Wide Web's a Stage: The Performance of Identity in Online Social Networks. First Monday, 14(3),
Photo Agency. 2009. “Cassie Sumner Shopping In London”. Image. Accessed March 14, 2011. http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/TypnfZ1QtUE/Cassie+Sumner+Shopping+London/3vJ9cWIrAd0/Cassie+Sumner
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