Back home in India, it was fun to catch my mother eavesdropping outside my bedroom door. She always claimed to be doing laundry, (the machines were opposite my door) but I knew she couldn't stand it when the door was closed and she could hear whispering. So I find it funny that I can’t convince her to join Facebook and see what I am up to in the US. She could get tons more “gossip” by perusing Facebook than trying to hear through a wooden door.
After reading, "Improving Your Ability to Share and Connect" by Mark Zuckerberg, I started thinking about how Facebook social networking allows people from many societies and cultures to connect. It has developed an interesting open system network ("Introduction to Social Network Theory" by Charles Kadushin) where you realize how the world is slowly becoming a connected village. But it also provides a conduit for the society and family back home to make sure you behaving in accordance with their social norms.
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”, no longer applies. As a girl from a conservative Indian family gets dressed for a party in the US, she has to ask herself, “Will my friends and family in India approve of this?” Is Facebook the new nosy neighbor watching you from her window while calling your mom to tell her what you are up to?
3 comments:
I think parents are slllllowly coming to the realization that to understand their kids better, they're going to have to get over their fear/aversion to technology. Yes we grew up with it so its easy for our generation, but the user interfaces are simple enough for a monkey to use and understand.
It's so true - social networking is often used to "check-in" on friends, family, acquaintances, and even potential employees. Now we have to constantly revise our online profiles to make sure the information we share is something we are willing to share publicly - or if that's not the case we place significant privacy controls on our information, pictures, videos, etc.
Facebook has become the nosy neighbors, but it's not all the Palo Alto company's fault. While their privacy issues have improved, WE have let become that way. In part, maybe we (society) are too immature to understand and separate personal from professional. On the other hand, we (society) have learned that not every picture and/or video is meant to be shared with the rest of the world. With the advent of the internet, cultural barriers can now be crossed more easily, even if through a virtual "wall." I think society is finally taking responsibility.
Post a Comment