Social Network Sites:
The Shift between Privacy and Public Information and Its Risks.
1.0 Introduction: Communication in Web 2.0
The Web has long provided the public with an endless array of information and activities
through a global data communications system, also known as the Internet. It began with
Web 1.0, a time where linear designs and features were put into use back then. However,
Web 1.0 offers limited services and features for the public to make use of. Because of this
and change of trends over the years, Web 1.0 has evolved into a more interactive and
dynamic version of itself. In the year 2004, Web 2.0 came into existence (OReilly, 2005).
In terms of communication, Web 2.0 brought about a different method of communicating
over the Web through online social networking. According to Thelwall (2008), social
networking sites are Web servers that allow users to register, create a personal profile, and
interact with selected others with their profile. Bulletin Board Systems was the supposed
first of its kind before it later evolved into websites like MySpace and Facebook (Rossen,
2007). This trend continues to grow over the years, eventually achieving a position higher
than that of the adult entertainment according to Bill Tancer of Time (2007). This goes to
show how popular social network sites have become over the years.
Yet, one could argue that this signals a shift in how people relate to the divide between
private and public space. Some would agree to it that it does as it has brought about a
prominent change on such social network sites. The line that divides both private and
public space has blurred. Information that was once private has now become public to the
audience of the Net. People become more pressured to put more of their information on
their profile pages to achieve popularity and gain more friends in their list (Thelwall,
2008), despite the dangers of displaying too many information about ones self that may
attract unwanted attention (AFP, 2007; Taylor, 2007).
1.1 Scope of the study
Perhaps this shift may be a desirable thing for some people as it gives other users more
information about him or her, thus, giving them even more reasons to befriend them. This
also benefits the user as he or she will be able to find more friends through the amount of
information displayed on his or her personal page, as it is part of the main reason why they
registered there in the first place. However, there are setbacks when it comes to these
things, particularly to one who displays more than what they should on these personal
pages of theirs.
So, is the blur between the private and public space considered as a desirable shift to
many? Why is it that they choose to disclose such information to others despite the
dangers? And are there benefits for the users and everyone else within this shift amidst the
many pitfalls this shift carries with it?
In this research paper, the researcher aims to answer these questions, in hopes that it may
offer an insight on this current trend and the state of it in the near future. The researchers
research will be conducted through an analysis of the contents of articles and what others
have discussed and argued about this topic. Yet, like most studies, this researchs study
would have its limitations as its contents are merely analysis of articles and not an actual
research with raw data at hand. Also, there is the probability of bias in certain contents.
Despite its limitations, the researchers aim for this research is to prove the dangers behind
this shift and its implications.
2.0 What is a Social Network Site?
According to Acquisti and Gross (2006), an online social network is one of the many
Internet community available that allows individuals to interact, more than often through
profiles the represents their persona and their affiliations to their network connections to
other users.
Of course, that is merely its general definition but the activities that were done on those
websites are more than what the definition states. Thelwall (2008) explains that a member
of a particular social networking site will be able to add a picture and biographic
information on their profile page. By what Acquisti and Gross explained about allowing
individuals to interact through their profiles, Thelwall made it clear that the users use their
profiles to allow other users to find their profile and at the same time. The same applies to
everyone and it goes about in an endless cycle of people searching for friends,
acquaintances and such.
They will be able to find and connect with other members of that particular social network
site by agreeing to become friends. By doing so, it will allow the users to gain special
privileges such as being able to send messages to one another and commenting on each
others profile. Sometimes, through befriending, the users would also gain access to a
profile that was originally privatised before agreeing to become friends.
These functions are probably one of the most basic functions of a social network sites.
However, social network sites began to diversify their functions by including more than
just adding friends to their public profile as time passes by.
2.1 History of Social Network Sites
Like many other phenomenal events that occurred in the world, social network sites have
their own story to tell as well. Rosens (2007) article stated that the earliest online social
network were the Bulletin Board Systems, in short, BBS, during the 1980s. BBSs allow
