Social Networks as an agent of Social Control
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/06/AR2005070601953.html
In the age of social networks, it is becoming increasingly easier to spread information to people who may be in completely different social networks, whether we want to or not. With sites like Facebook and Twitter, all it takes is a quick status update from any phone or computer to make some information known to hundreds or even thousands of people. While Facebook has a few security measures in place that allow only people’s friends (that is those with a positive edge connecting them) to see photos, videos or posts, it isn’t terribly difficult to find ways around this. For instance, one cannot control the content of other people’s profiles, meaning if there is an incriminating photo or video out there, it can easily be posted by the owner without the knowledge of the person it concerns. Of course materials can be flagged and reported to be removed by Facebook, but there is no telling how many people would have seen and possibly saved the offending materials. And those who may not be aware of the complexity of the networks they are involved in may neglect to change any settings, making their content viewable by not only friends, but also friends of friends who may be strangers. With Facebook giving people the opportunity to share personal information like their cell phone number, place of employment and home address, not taking privacy settings seriously can be incredibly dangerous.
With features that recommend friends based on mutual connections, interests, or institutions, connections between people are forming rapidly. This increase in connections also increases the rate of diffusion of information, both good and bad. Therefore the speed at which private information is taken down may have little effect on how many people end up getting a hold of it. Online social networking users, realizing their power, are unfortunately beginning to use it to shame, condemn, and harass people publicly for inappropriate behavior.
In one case that made national headlines, a young woman in South Korea was caught on camera when her dog relieved itself on a public train. When asked to clean up the mess, she repeatedly refused. Disgusted, witnesses posted the images online, and it wasn’t long before the woman found herself being harassed on the street and at her home. Her picture was passed around various social networking sites and forums, and as people began to recognize her, her entire life story was more or less posted online and passed along. While this was a case of someone who had done something very offensive, it shows the ease with which someone’s entire private world can be made public by people using the internet to reinforce their own personal values. While many people see the increasing connectedness provided by social networks as a good thing, it is important to also look at these alarming tales like this and exercise caution.
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