Self Disclosure and Social Networking

 Social Networking sites like Facebook enable people to connect. This tool has enabled me to keep in contact with family members and friends that I don't necessarily get to see on a regular basis. Through this tool I am able to not only communicate, but share pictures and videos. This use of Facebook is one that promotes a positive use of technology, however this tool is often used to promote other negative behaviors.

As I have mentioned Facebook has allowed people to connect and sometimes reconnect with absolutely no negative reprocussions, but people are beginning to find many new uses. While looking through my own group of friends I have seen behaviors that don't seem to be the ideal ways to use this piece of technology. People attack eachother and have long drawn out arguments on their public walls. Often times these fights begin to delve into personal information that does not need to be exposed to the world.

In addition to arguements a feature that a lot of people have been using is the "count down." I have seen people have a count down on the side of their Facebook notifying how many days until their 21st birthdays, weddings, and even pregnancy due dates. I don't find this to at all be offensive, but it does seem to get a little too personal. Just glancing through my friends Facebooks it's clear that they have hundreds of "friends" online, but how many of those people are really your friends. Or rather how many of those people need to know when your bundle of joy will be arriving.

The article, "Social Networking: Are we revealing too much?" specifially mentions how employers and even college coaches are taking a closer look at Facebook pages. A friend of mine prior to an injury, use to play for Wesley, and had a serious issue when it came to Facebook. I remember him sending out a mass message to everyone asking us to untag him in any pictures that included alcohol or red cups. He made it clear that his coaches were checking the players Facebooks, and he had already witnessed a player being repremanded and punished by having to have a  more extensive practice due to the photos found online.

I had forgotten all about that up until now. Looking back it makes me realize that it doesn't even matter what a person posts on their own Facebook, but that you have to take into account what others may volunteer about you. You may not even be the one self disclosing about yourself, but rather one of the hundreds of "friends" or rather acquaintances you have online.