Compulsively connected

Internet Mania

Social networking sites are becoming a medium to wash dirty linen in public.

The advent of Facebook and Twitter has given rise to a new era of social interaction. People today are connected to their friends, family and colleagues at the click of a button.

People who earlier shied away from making new friends and expressing themselves in public are now interacting and socialising through these websites.

And though these networking sites have come as a great revolution, they have also conclusively demonstrated that washing dirty linen in public is still very much in vogue.

Today people are using these sites to let the world know how bad is their husband/wife, their life, their partner; what were the bad habits of these people and how bad they were. People seem to have forgotten that privacy is in their hands and it has to be used carefully.

"How can people share their private moments on the internet just like that? I started using facebook as timepass. I put up whatever’s on my mind, thoughts of the day, and if any interesting situations happened to me. But never my personal life or issues about my family and such," says Ashok Rana, a hotelier.

"My friend's dad passed away last month. After a week of his death, she uploaded all the pictures of him laughing and riding a bike. I mean what's the point? I couldn't ask her because she is the one who was dealing with the tragedy but I still can't get the point of uploading those pictures after his death," says Anu, a student.

But there are people who feel it is absolutely natural to be open about your personal lives on the internet. "What is wrong in updating status about your personal life? If the one who is uploading is ok with it, what problem does the world have? I don't understand why some people question them?" says Anumita Chhabra, who works with a bank.

Rupali Dutta, who is a psychologist feels that people put their personal lives as status updates more, when they are depressed over something. "If you write something sad, depressing thoughts, people or friends from your Facebook list will be writing immediately. What would they write? Of course, asking what happened?

Who did that to you? Why and how? They are going to ask so many questions that it would make you feel glad that so many people care about you where in the actual scenario those people put it together and discuss all about your problems to other people behind your back.

Some people know that and that is why they do it whereas some just do it for the empathetic feeling they get temporarily, because that makes them feel better." she says.
However there are some who feel its all about the way such sites are designed. "If we talk about facebook, then on analysing one realises that it emphasizes on knowing about people inside and out.” says Neeraj sharma, a call centre employee.

By all means, indulging yourself in social networking sites is good but there should be a limit to expressing yourself on such sites. "If you don’t want other people to interfere and talk behind you back; laughing and screaming how fool you are to share it with them; not unless you know they are your true friends to trust." advices Rupali.