Public vs. Private

On the first day of class we spent some time going over the syllabus and getting to know one another. It was nice to hear that many f us are taking this Writing for Multiple Media course for the Digital Rhetoric and Professional Writing (or whatever its name is now) major/minor. It seems to be a great program that is extremely relevant and beneficial to be a part of in today’s technology driven society. Originally, I thought that achieving this minor in DRPW would be a great asset in developing my skills and image as a high school English teacher. However, I’m no longer sure that the undergrad education track at Bloomsburg University is right for educational and career goals. I may end up switching to DRPW and English Literature for my majors. I know that this DRPW discipline will be helpful and relevant no matter what career path I follow in the future.

As a class we discussed how society as a whole has been changed by the growing availability of internet access and portable technology. While discussing, it seemed that we were all in agreement that over use of social media has caused the line between private information and public information to blue. This truth can be negative for a many number of reasons. One reason would be that posting statements/pictures/videos online that could be viewed as unprofessional may hinder one’s ability to obtain a professional career later in life. A second reason is simply that private things are sometimes just plain irrelevant to others, therefore, you’re just wasting your time writing a post about those things. For example, maybe instead of wasting ten minutes writing a Facebook update about your annoying and aggressive acne you could be on the phone making an appointment with a dermatologist. As weird as that example may seem, people post far more personal issues online and waste critical time on topics that many others don’t care about. Or worse yet, people do post these private and uninteresting things about themselves and others DO read their posts and waste their own time scrolling through these subjective little tidbits of information. The bottom line is that certain private thoughts and/or issues are, more often than not, irrelevant to those who follow you on social media, so its just logical to keep those things private.

On the other hand, I will share a positive side to this lack of privacy that came to mind when we discussed this private vs. public issue in class. I believe that sharing things that used to be perceived as “private information” can be beneficial for the person sharing these posts that are considered “private”. For example, an ex-boyfriend of mine battled depression for the entirety of his adolescent life. Instead of bottling up his emotions, he discovered a social media platform where people of all ages with mood disorders and/or depressing thoughts can message one another to share experiences, provide support, and most importantly prove that they weren’t alone in their struggles. Many of the things shared on this platform would be considered very private and personal, but the site provided a safe environment for troubled souls to vent and be heard by others going through similar issues. In this case, it was a positive thing to share private information online because it brought people together to create a sense of community for those who needed others who could provide solace.

Similarly, another positive example of “over sharing” has to do with today’s social media discussions about body image. The company Aerie began the popular Every BODY is Beautiful campaign on social media platforms in order to retaliate against fat shaming. Pictures posted using the hashtag everyBODYisbeautiful typically portray models, or other women who wish to support the cause, proudly showing their cellulite, stretchmarks, or entire body clothed only in underwear followed by heartfelt captions that explain how cellulite and stretchmarks are a natural part of life and should not be viewed as flaws. Clearly, sharing practically nude photos of oneself on social media platforms like Instagram is something our grandmothers may consider indecent and an extreme example of sharing too much private information. But in this case, sharing these private photos enlightens and encourages women to stop feeling ashamed of their bodies and to embrace their beauty.

It is true that the question about what should stay private and what should be made public is a difficult one to answer in these times. But I think the bigger question you should consider before posting something should be “Will this post better my society/community?” If the post is meant to harm someone or if it is unprofessional and therefore could harm you later on, perhaps you should refrain from posting the photo/status update/video. There is no doubt that times are changing and the limitations of social media are only getting fewer. We need to be using these platforms for good intentions and ultimately as a way to communicate and become closer to our fellow humans.

Poetry Slam Technology

I leave you with this eye opening video about the impact technology has had on the way we socialize with one another. The scariest part? This was made in 2011…

-Anna J.