What we post on the internet, regardless of privacy settings.. can never be private. I really enjoyed the quote from pg 16 of Why youth <3 social networking. "Most people believe that security through obscurity will serve as a functional barrier online" It true, many young teens believe they can "hide" from parents, teachers, and worst of all predators. They change their information and believe it will "protect" them from people finding there things. In some ways, this will deter people. But I don't believe that it will stop anyone. The thing about social networking is that it links everyone together, making you easy to find by the people you are friends with.
But in a way, would we ever post something online that we didn't want ANYONE to read? Our deepest, darkest secret? In a way, isn't everything posted online written for someone? How many times can you tell yourself that you are just "venting" for yourself, and not intending on someone else seeing it?
I grew up in the age of social networking. Everything from Myspace, to Xanga, to Live Journal, to Facebook. I knew it all. "“If you’re not on MySpace, you don’t exist” – Skyler," I love this quote, because as a teen it is true. You are nothing without your social networking site.
I do believe that these social networking sites give teens and now even adults a community. It broadens your span of friends, and connects people from all times in your life. These communities allow you to air out issues that are bugging you, complain about something, rejoice about things, laugh, be angry. It gives way to all sorts of emotions with people you would never have shared those feelings with. I do feel as if some people take it too far though. If you are a different person online then you would be in person, what are you proving? Many cyber" bullys" and things exist. These people are big and bad when they can hide behind their computer, but are not like this in real life. These communities, just like real life, allow people to judge you. I do think these cyber communities should not replace real life. Humans, as a race, are loosing out on real life moments that could happen because of these social networking communities. It is important that even though we can be whoever we would like online, that we also be true to ourselves in the real world.
I very much agree that noone can ever really be invisible online, especially on social networking sites. If one chooses to be online and express themselves technologically they are there to make themselves heard in some way or another. However I do not agree so much with the quote of not existing if you are not part of a social network. People make names for themselves all the time without ever setting eyes on technology. But social networks is a much faster and easier way to get word out and express one's feelings and ideas.
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