Privacy Online pt3: Unreasonable Expectations of Privacy

However, in more social and open setting, like facebook, there is not a reasonable expectation of privacy. Although you can limit who sees your profile, you are deliberately putting information into digital form for others to access. One way or another, you have to assume that information can travel.

In order to pretend that your facebook profile is private, you would need to have only "friends" who will always know and share your interests, who will never post materials offensive not only to you, but to anyone in your life, who would never make an error of judgment, who would never pass on your posted information, intentionally or not, to someone less scrupulous. Not likely.

One of the problems with facebook (or blogging or twitter, etc.) is simply that people don't consider their (whole) audience. You're usually writing with someone in mind, or venting a particular feeling without considering how it might appear to someone else. Something that makes sense to your friends might horrify your boss -- especially if it's a complaint about work!

I think our students need to be taught about the wider audience that may see their posts. It is sometimes difficult, especially as a young person, to see ahead to the time when you wouldn't want people to know about your high school antics, so explicit instruction is needed at home and at school. I, however, feel it comes down to this -- if you post it, assume anyone can see it.