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SocialPrivacyinNetworkedPublics:
TeensAttitudes,Practices,andStrategies
danahboydandAliceMarwick
[email protected]@microsoft.com
Waffles,17,NC1:Everyteenagerwantsprivacy.Everysinglelastoneofthem,
whethertheytellyouornot,wantsprivacy.Justbecauseanadultthinkstheyknowthe
persondoesntmeantheyknowtheperson.Andjustbecauseteenagersuseinternet
sitestoconnecttootherpeopledoesntmeantheydontcareabouttheirprivacy.We
donttelleverybodyeverysinglethingaboutourlives.Wetellthemgeneral
information-names,places,whatweliketodo-butthatsgeneralknowledge.Thatsnotsomethingyouliketokeepprivate--Oh,Iplaygames.Ibetternottellanybody
aboutthat.Imean--thatsnotsomethingthatwedo.Sotogoaheadandsaythatteenagersdontlikeprivacyisprettyignorantandinconsideratehonestly,Ibelieve,on
theadultspart.
TheresawidespreadmyththatAmericanteenagersdontcareaboutprivacy.The
logicissimple:WhyelsewouldteenagerssharesomuchonFacebookandTwitterandYouTube?2ThereislittledoubtthatmanybutnotallAmericanteenshave
embracedmanypopularsocialmediaservices.3Andthereislittledoubtthatthose
whohavearepostingphotos,sharinglinks,updatingstatusmessages,andcommentingoneachothersposts.4Yet,asWafflesexplainsabove,participationin
suchnetworkedpublicsdoesnotimplythattodaysteenshaverejectedprivacyasa
value.Allteenshaveasenseofprivacy,althoughtheirdefinitionsofprivacyvarywidely.Theirpracticesinnetworkedpublicsareshapedbytheirinterpretationof
thesocialsituation,theirattitudestowardsprivacyandpublicity,andtheirabilitytonavigatethetechnologicalandsocialenvironment.Assuch,theydevelopintricate
1Thenamesusedinthisarticlearepseudonyms.Somewerechosenbytheparticipantsthemselves;otherswerechosenbytheauthorstoreflectsimilargenderandethnicrootsasareembeddedinthe
participantsgivennames.Allidentifyinginformationinteensquoteshasbeenalteredtomaintain
confidentiality.2A2008HarrisInteractive/CTIAsurveyaboutteensrelationshiptotheirmobilewaspublicizedas
indicatingthatkidsdontcareaboutprivacybecauseonly41%indicatedthattheywereconcernedaboutprivacyandsecurityissueswhenusingtheirmobile:
http://files.ctia.org/pdf/HI_TeenMobileStudy_ResearchReport.pdfIn2010,ChrisJayHoofnagle,
JenniferKing,SuLi,andJosephTurowfoundthatyoungpeoplesattitudesaboutprivacyparallel
adultsattitudes,buttheirskillsinmanagingprivacyonlineareoftenlacking.3AsofSeptember2009,thePewInternetandAmericanLifeProjectfoundthat73%ofAmericanteensages12-17useasocialnetworksite;only8%ofteensintheirsampleusedTwitter.See
Lenhartet.al.2010.4Ofteenswhoareonsocialnetworksites,Pewfoundthat86%commentonfriendsposts.Theyalso
foundthat38%ofteensages12-17sharedcontentonline;14%keepablog.SeeLenhartet.al.2010.
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strategiestoachieveprivacygoals.Theirpracticesdemonstrateprivacyasasocial
normthatisachievedthroughawidearrayofsocialpracticesconfiguredbystructuralconditions.Howteensapproachprivacychallengesthewaysinwhich
privacyiscurrentlyconceptualized,discussed,andregulated.
Thispaperexamineshowteensunderstandprivacyandwhatstrategiestheytakein
theireffortstoachievesocialprivacy.Wedescribebothteenspracticesandthestructuralconditionsinwhichtheyareembedded,highlightingthewaysinwhich
privacy,asitplaysoutineverydaylife,isrelatedmoretoagencyandtheabilitytocontrolasocialsituationthanparticularpropertiesofinformation.Finally,we
discusstheimplicationsofteenspractices,revealingtheimportanceofsocialnorms
asaregulatoryforce.
Thedatausedinthispapercomefromethnographicfieldworkcollectedacross20
differentU.S.statesfrom2006-2010.Inadditiontobothonlineandoffline
participantobservation,weconducted16390-minutesemi-structuredinterviews.5Westrategicallyworkedtosampleacrossgender,race,ethnicity,religion,age,socio-economicbackground,politicalbackground,andschoolengagementlevel.Allofthe
teensthatweinterviewedwereinhighschoolorhadrecentlydroppedoutofhigh
school.Weusedajudgmentsampletoelicitdiverseperspectivesratherthanattemptingtoobtainarepresentativesample.Privacywasthecentraltopicof58
interviewsconductedinNorthCarolina,Massachusetts,Tennessee,andWashington
DCin2010.Whilewedrawfromtheexperiencesofalltheteensweinterviewed,thevoicesofinformantsfromtheseregionsareoverrepresentedinthediscussion.
WhatisPrivacy?Privacyisafraughtconcept,withnoclearagreed-upondefinition.Philosophersand
legalscholarshaveworkeddiligentlytoconceptuallylocateprivacyandofferaframeworkforconsideringhowandwhenithasbeenviolated.6Yet,fundamentally,
privacyisasocialconstructthatreflectsthevaluesandnormsofeverydaypeople.
Howpeopleconceptualizeprivacyandlocateitintheirlifevarieswildly,
5Thisethnographicprojectisanextensionoftheonedescribedindanahboyds2008 TakenOutof
Context:AmericanTeenSocialityinNetworkedPublics .Adetailedaccountofthemethodological
proceduresisavailablethere.
6Thedefinitionsofprivacyarenumerous.HelenNissenbaum(2010)relatesmultipledefinitionsofprivacyandgroupsthembasedonwhethertheyarenormativeordescriptive;emphasizeaccessvs.
control;oremphasizepromotingothervaluesvs.protectingaprivaterealm.Theseinclude
definitionsfromRuthGavison(ameasureoftheaccessothershavetoyouthroughinformation,
attention,andphysicalproximity)(68);JeffreyReiman(theconditionunderwhichotherpeople
aredeprivedofaccesstoeithersomeinformationaboutyouorsomeexperienceofyou)(1976,30);
Westinstheclaimofindividuals,groups,orinstitutionstodetermineforthemselveswhen,how,
andtowhatextentinformationaboutthemiscommunicatedtoothers(Westin1967,7),andAnita
Allen(whodefinesthreetypesofprivacy:physicalprivacy,informationalprivacy,andproprietary
privacy,71).SeeNissenbaum2010forafulldiscussion.
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highlightingthatauniversalnotionofprivacyremainsenigmatic.7Whenweasked
teenstodefineprivacyforus,theircacophonousresponsesrevealthediverseapproachesthatcanbetakentounderstandprivacy.8Whilethesediscussionsdo
nothelptodetermineaprecisedefinitionofprivacy,howteensattempttoexplain
privacydemonstratesitsimportancetothem.
Bothlegallyandphilosophically,privacyhasbeenconceptualizedasadichotomyinwhichpeopleareentitledtogreaterprivacyprotectionsinthedomesticspheredue
toitsintimateandpersonalnature.9Althoughteensrecognizethespatialdimensionofprivacy,thisdichotomydoesnotreflecttherealitiesofyoungpeoples
lives.Forexample,Jabari(17,TN)arguesthatprivacyishavingmyownspaceand
notnecessarilynothavingpeopleinvolvedinmylife,buthavingtheopportunitytobe
aloneortousemyspaceindividually.Jared(17,TN)alsorecognizesthatprivacyis
usuallyunderstoodintermsofspace,buthebelievesthatitisimpossibletoactually
achievephysicalprivacybecauseeveryoneisalwaysinvadinghisspace;helivesina
one-roomapartmentwithhisbrother,hisfather,andhisfathersdown-on-his-luckfriend.Givenfewopportunitiestoexperiencephysicalprivacy,hefocusesinsteadonwhathehascontrolover:histhoughts.Theonlyprivacywevegotleftinourlives
iswhatwedontsayandwhatwedontdo,andthatsreallywhattellsthemostabout
people,isnotjustthethoughtsbutwhatdotheynotwantpeopletoknow.Inthisway,Jaredsettlesforprivacyinhisheadbecauseofhisinabilitytocontrolhis
physicalenvironment.
Whenadultsthinkaboutprivacyorprivateplaces,theyoftenimaginethehomeasa
privatespace.Yet,manyoftheteensthatweinterviewedrejectedthis,highlightingthewaysinwhichhomeisnotprivateforthem.Forexample,whendanahasked
14-year-oldLeighfromIowaifhomewasprivate,shesaidNottome,buttoourfamily.Mymomcomesandlooksinmyroomandstuff.Heather,a16-year-oldfromIowa,wentfurther.Becausetherearealotofthingsthatmymomdoesthat
makemefeellikeitsnotprivate.Icanbetakingashowerandshellcomein,gotothe
bathroom,andleave.Shehasnorespectformypersonalprivacy.Icanbesittingonthe
computertalkingtoafriendandshellbereadingovermyshoulderandIdontwant
herto.Thatsnotreallyprivatetome.PrivateiskindoflikeaplacewhereIcankindofgoandjustbebymyselfandnothavetoworryaboutanyonedoinganything.When
danahaskedHeatherforanexampleofaprivateplace,shelistedPaneraBread,a
restaurantwheresheworkspart-time.Mycoworkers,theyllcomeandtalktomebutIstillhavemyalonetime.Imsittingtherebymyself.IfImlisteningtomymusic
anddoingmyhomeworkitsjustkindofalonetime.Imrelaxed.Theabsenceof
7Anthropologistshavefoundwildvariationsinhowdifferentcommunitiesunderstandandprioritize
privacy.JohnL.LockesEavesdropping:AnIntimateHistory(2010)weavestogethermanyofthese
differentaccounts.8Teensarenotaloneinhavingdiverseviewsaboutwhatconstitutesprivacy.Diverseadult
perspectivesarewelldocumentedinChristenaNippert-Engs IslandsofPrivacy(2010).9Allen1999;Nissenbaum2010,94;Strandburg2011
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parentsisregularlyakeyfactorforteenstofeelasthoughtheyhaveprivacy.For
example,17-year-oldSamfromIowatolddanahthathisprivateplacesareInmycaroratafriendshouseorsomething.Imdefinitelynotworriedaboutitbecausethey
arenotmyparents,so,Imalittlemoreopen.Whenteensexplainwheretheycan
seekprivacy,theyfocusmoreonwhoispresentthantheparticularconfigurationsofthespace.
Accessisakeypartofmanydefinitionsofprivacy;forexample,RuthGavisonwrites
thatprivacyisalimitationofothersaccesstoanindividualandthatalossofprivacyoccursasothersobtaininformationaboutanindividual,payattentionto
him,orgainaccesstohim.10Boundariestoaccessalsoplayanimportantrolein
howsometeensunderstandprivacy.Forexample,Jeromy(14,DC)saysthatprivacyiswhenyou'retryingtokeepsomethingfromtheworldoryourselforpeople
thatyoudon'tlike.Inlistingoffdifferentexamplesofwhoshouldnthaveaccessto
certaininformation,Jeromyleavesroomtoshare.Likewise,Meixing(17,NC)
suggeststhatprivacyinvolvescertainthoughtsorideasthatyoukeeponlytoyourself,ormaybesomeoneelsethatisclosetoyou,butitsrelativelyconfidential.Bothoftheirapproachestoprivacyhighlighthowprivacyisntsimplybinary
accessornoaccessbut,rather,controloverhowinformationflowsor,inother
words,controloverthesocialsituation.Maintainingcontrolisntnecessarilyaboutstructuralconstraints.Forexample,Miguel(17,NC)arguesthatprivacyisfor
someonetorespectwhatyoudo.Taylor(15,MA)takesthisonestepfurtherby
sayingthatprivacyistherightyouhavetokeepingpersonalthingsprivate.Byusingthelanguageofrights,Taylormakesitclearthatprivacyextendsbeyondthe
individual.Whatshesarguingforistheimportanceofsocialnormsasaregulatoryforce.
InhisseminalbookCodeandOtherLawsofCyberspace,LarryLessigarguedthatfourconstraintsserveregulatorypurposesinsociety:thelaw,socialnorms,the
market,andarchitecture(orcodeinthecaseofdigitalenvironments).11Eachofthesefourmodesofregulationplayaroleinprivacy,butwhenitcomestoprivacyin
networkedpublics,socialnormsareoftendownplayed.Somescholarsfocusonthe
rolethatthelawshouldplayinregulatingprivacyinthesenewenvironments.12Otherslamentthemarketsincentivesforerodingprivacy.13Stillothershighlight
howtechnologyscodecanbeusedbothtodestroyprivacyandtoprotectprivacy.14
Whensocialnormsareinvoked,itsusuallytojustifyapproachesmadebyother
10Gavison1980,p.421.11Lessig,Lawrence.(2006).Code:Version2.0.NewYork:BasicBooks.Page123.12Regan,P.(1995).LegislatingPrivacy.ChapelHill:UniversityofNorthCarolinaPress13Cohen,J.E.(2003).DRMandprivacy.CommunicationsoftheACM,46,4649;Solove,D.J.(2004).
Thedigitalperson:Technologyandprivacyintheinformationage.NewYork:NewYorkUniversity
Press.14Zimmer,Michael.(2007).TheQuestforthePerfectSearchEngine:Values,TechnicalDesign,andthe
FlowofPersonalInformationinSpheresofMobility(PhDDissertation,DepartmentofMedia,Culture,
andCommunication).NewYorkUniversity,NewYork.
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regulatoryforces.Forexample,whentechnologyexecutiveslikeFacebooksMark
ZuckerbergorGooglesEricSchmidtsuggestthatprivacyisdisappearingasasocialnorm,theyareusingthistojustifytheincreasedpublicityofpeoplesdataontheir
services.15Suchincidentsprovokepeopletorespondbyclaimingthatthatthe
socialnormsarentchanging,andthatprivacystillmatters.Ofcourse,socialnormsareinherentlyunstableandconstantlyevolving;theyvarywidelyandaredifficultto
pindown.Socialnormsarerevealedwhenpeopletalkaboutissues,andwhentheircomplexpracticesandattitudesaremadevisible.Whenitcomestoprivacy,social
normsareevolving,butnotdisappearing,evenaspublicfiguresattempttodownplayordiminishtheirpowerasaregulatoryforce.Teenagersareespecially
weddedtosocialnormsastheonlyregulatoryforcetheyfeelempoweredtoshape.
Thisbegsacriticalquestion:inlightofthepowerfulpositionsofthemarket,thelaw,andthearchitecture,howcansocialnormsserveasapowerfulregulatoryforce
whenitcomestoprivacy?
Whentryingtolocateprivacy,youngpeoplecirclearoundthetropesthatadultsusetodiscussprivacy.Theyspeakofsecretsandtrust,andhighlightparticularspacesasmoreorlessprivate.Throughouttheseconversations,teensconsistentlycome
backtotheimportanceofcontrolandpersonalagency.Theybelievethatprivacy
hastodowiththeirabilitytocontrolasocialsituation,howinformationflows,andwhenandwheretheycanbeobservedbyothers.Unfortunately,teensoften
struggletoassertcontroloversituations,particularlywhentechnologyusurpstheir
controlorwhentheiragencyisundermined.Moreoftenthannot,teensacknowledgethislackofcontrolwhenpeoplewhoholdpowerovertheme.g.their
parentsinsistonviolatingboundariesthatteenscreateorsocialnormsthattheydeclare.Thereinliesthekeyhypocrisysurroundingteensandprivacy.Alongside
adultscomplaintsthatteensdontcareaboutprivacywhenitcomestoonlineactivitiesisanongoingbeliefthatteensdonothavetherighttoprivacywhenitcomestotheirphysicalspacesor,inmanycases,theironlineactivities.16Parents
oftenusetheaccessibilityofteensonlinevocalizationsasjustificationforviolatingteensprivacy.
In2006,17-year-oldBlyLauritano-WernerfromMainecreatedaYouthRadioepisodetohighlightthishypocrisy.Init,shearguedMymomalwaysusestheexcuse
abouttheinternetbeingpublicwhenshedefendsherself.It'snotlikeIdoanythingto
beashamedof,butagirlneedsherprivacy.IdoonlinejournalssoIcancommunicate
15SeeEsguerra,R.(2009).GoogleCEOEricSchmidtDismissestheImportanceofPrivacy. ElectronicFrontierFoundation.Retrievedfromhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2009/12/google-ceo-eric-
schmidt-dismisses-privacyandJohnson,B.(2010,January11).Privacynolongerasocialnorm,says
Facebookfounder.TheGuardian.London.Retrievedfrom
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/jan/11/facebook-privacy.16Marwick,A.,Murgia-Diaz,D.,&Palfrey,J.(2010).Youth,privacyandreputation(literaturereview)
(BerkmanCenterResearchPublicationNo.2010-5).Boston:BerkmanCenterforInternetandSociety
atHarvardUniversity.Retrievedfrom
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1588163
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withmyfriends.Notsomymothercouldcatchuponthelatestgossipofmylife.17In
doingso,Blyisarguinganage-oldrefrain;shewantstherighttobeletalone18evenandperhapsespeciallywhenshessocializingwithfriends.
TeenslikeBlylacktheagencytobeabletoassertsocialnormsandadultsregularlyviolateteensunderstandingsofsocialdecorum.ConsiderwhathappenedinOld
Saybrook,Connecticutwhenlocallawenforcementandteachersputtogetheranassemblyforstudentsonprivacy.19Tomakeapointaboutprivacy,theeducators
puttogetheraslideshowofimagesgrabbedfromstudentsFacebookprofilesanddisplayedtheseimagestothestudentbody.Studentswerefurious.Onestudent
toldareporterthatthisstuntisaviolationofprivacy.Mostadultsfindthis
incredulousgiventhatthecontentwasbroadlyaccessibleandthatthestudentsintheschoolhadalreadymostlikelyseenmanyoftheseimagesbecausetheycertainly
hadaccesstothem.Yet,bytakingtheimagesoutofcontext,theeducatorshad
violatedstudentssocialnormsand,thus,theirsenseofdignity,fairness,and
respect.Asonestudentexplainedtoareporter,Ikindofthought,itslikeifyouputitonline,anyonecanseeit,butthenatthesametime,itslikekindofnotfairforthepoliceofficerstoputthatondisplaywithouttheirpermissionandwithoutthem
knowing.Thisincidentdoesnotrevealthatteensdontunderstandprivacy,but
rather,thattheylacktheagencytoassertsocialnormsandexpectthatotherswillrespectthem.Thosewhohavepoweroverthemtheirparentsandthepolicecan
usetheirpowertoviolateteensnorms,usingaccessibilityastheirjustification.In
thisway,adultsfurthermarginalizeyoungpeople,reinforcingthenotionthattheydonothavethesocialstatusnecessarytodeserverightsassociatedwithprivacy.
Inaneraofsocialmediawhereinformationisofteneasilyaccessible,itsalltooeasy
toconflateaccessibilitywithpublicity.Yet,justbecauseteensaresocializinginapublicsettingdoesntmeanthattheywanttobepublicfiguresnordoesitmeanthattheywanttobetheobjectofjustanyonesgaze.Whatsatstakeconcernsnotjust
therighttobeinvisible,butwhohastherighttolook,forwhatpurposes,andtowhatends.Findingawaytomanageboundariesisjustoneofthechallengesthat
teensfaceinnavigatingnetworkedpublicsbecauseprivacyisntsimplyabout
controloverthesocialsituation;italsorequiresenoughagencytoaffectthesesituations.
Astheyenterintonetworkedpublics,teensaregrapplingwiththetensionsthatsurroundprivacyandpublicity.Theyaretryingtofindwaystohaveagencyand
assertcontrolinsettingswhereboththearchitectureandtheirsocialpositionmake
17YouthRadiobroadcastReadingMyLiveJournalbyBlyLauritano-Werner:
http://www.youthradio.org/oldsite/society/npr060628_onlinejournal.shtml18Warren,S.D.&Brandeis,L.D.,(1890).RighttoPrivacy.HarvardLawReview,4,193.19Misur,S.(2011,April11).OldSaybrookHighSchoolmakesprivacypoint;Someperturbedwhen
realstudentsshowninsocial-mediaslideshow.ShorelineTimes.NewHaven,CT.Retrievedfrom
http://www.shorelinetimes.com/articles/2011/04/11/news/doc4da2f3cb5caae518276953.txt
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itverydifficultforthemtocontroltheflowofinformation.Yet,inexploring
strategiesformaintainingsocialprivacyinnetworkedpublics,theyrevealhowsocialnormsareenacted.Privacyisbothasocialnormandaprocess;itisnot
somethingthatishadsomuchassomethingthatisnegotiated.Andthepractices
whichteensengageinwhileattemptingtonegotiateprivacyshowthatthissocialconstructisnotdisappearingsimplybecausetechnologyintroducesnewhurdles.
Lifein(Networked)Publics
Sincetheyfirstbecamepopularin2003,teenshaveflockedtosocialnetworksites
tosocializewiththeirfriends.20Socialnetworksiteshavebecomethemodern-dayequivalentofthemallormovietheater,aplacewhereteenscanhangoutwith
friendsandrunintootherfriendsandpeers.Onewayofunderstandingsocial
networksitesandotherpopulargenresofsocialmediaisthroughthelensof
networkedpublics.Networkedpublicsarepublicsthatarerestructuredbynetworkedtechnologies.
Thenotionofapublicreferstobothahighlyaccessiblespacewherewide
audiencescangather,andacollectionofpeoplewhosharewhatSoniaLivingstonedescribesasacommonunderstandingoftheworld,asharedidentity,aclaimto
inclusiveness,aconsensusregardingthecollectiveinterest.21BenedictAnderson
arguesthatpublicscomprisedofpeoplewhodontoccupyaspace,butratherasharedidentity,canbeunderstoodasanimaginedcommunity.22Assuch,apublic
isnotadefinablesetofpeopleoraboundedspace,butaflexiblecategorywherepeopleconceptualizeboundariesbutdonotcontrolthem.Giventhisunderstanding,
networkedpublicsaresimultaneously(1)thespaceconstructedthroughnetworkedtechnologiesand(2)theimaginedcommunitythatemergesasaresultoftheintersectionofpeople,technology,andpractice.Facebook,forexample,servesboth
asanetworkedpublicitselfandasasiteuponwhichnetworkedpublicsgather.
Publicsservemultiplepurposes.Theycanplayacivicfunction,servingtogather
peopleinademocracy.23Buttheycanalsoplayasocialrole,enablingpeopletomakesenseoftheworldaroundthemandunderstandtheirrelationshiptosociety.
HannahArendtarguesthatthepresenceofotherswhoseewhatweseeandhear
whatwehearassuresusoftherealityoftheworldandourselves.24The
20boyd,danah.2007.Whyyouth(heart)socialnetworksites:Theroleofnetworkedpublics.InYouth,identityanddigitalmedia,ed.D.Buckingham,119142.Cambridge,MA:MITPress.21Livingstone,Sonia.2005.AudiencesandPublics:WhenCulturalEngagementMattersforthePublic
Sphere.Portland,OR:Intellect,9.22Anderson,Benedict.2006.ImaginedCommunities:ReflectionsontheOriginandSpreadof
Nationalism.Newed.NewYork:Verso.23Habermas,Jurgen.1991.TheStructuralTransformationofthePublicSphere:AnInquiryintoa
CategoryofBourgeoisSociety.Cambridge,MA:MITPress.24Arendt,Hannah.1998.TheHumanCondition.Chicago,IL:UniversityofChicagoPress,p.50
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importanceofpublicsforidentityworkandsocialconceptualizationisprecisely
whyteenagersseekoutpublics.Yet,giventheirmarginalizedposition,theyreoftenostracizedfromtheverypublicsthattheywishtoenter.Manyphysicalsitesof
gatheringexplicitlyorimplicitlyrestrictteenagers;teenscannotenterbarsbecause
theyareunderage,theylacktheeconomicresourcestogatherineatingestablishments,andwhenteensgatherinparkinglotsoronstreetcorners,theyre
oftenaccusedofloitering.Giventhis,teensoftenseektocreatetheirownpublics;networkedpublicsare,inmanyways,teenpublics.
NancyFrasernotedthatrepressedgroupsoftencreatesubalterncounterpublics
which,fromacivicengagementperspective,canbeunderstoodas"parallel
discursivearenaswheremembersofsubordinatedsocialgroupsinventandcirculatecounterdiscoursestoformulateoppositionalinterpretationsoftheir
identities,interests,andneeds"25Inconsideringthepracticesofqueerindividuals,
MichaelWarnerfoundthatcounterpublicsdonotsimplyserveacivicrole;queer
individualscreatedtheirownpublicsformultiplepurposes,includingpoliticalresistanceaswellasengaginginidentityworkandnegotiatingsocialrelations.26Thenetworked(counter)publicsthatteenscreatetendtoemphasizesociable
purposes,buttheystillservearesistantpurpose,challengingadultauthorityand
norm-setting.
Participationinnetworkedpublicshasbecomeacorepartofteenculturebecause
teensvalueopportunitiestogatherwithpeersbroadly,especiallyinsituationswheretheirinteractionsarenotheavilyconfiguredbyadults.Theystrugglefor
agencyinnetworkedpublics,preciselybecauseadultsareever-presentintheirlives.Asphysicalspacesforpeersociabilityhavedisappearedorbeenrestricted,
andasteenshavefoundtheiraccessstructurallyorsociallycurtailed,thevalueofmediatedspaceswhereteenscangatherhasincreased.Inchoosingwheretogo,thepresenceofpeersandfriendsisthemostimportantfactor.Iffriendsandpeers
gatherinperson,teensfeeltheneedtobephysicallytheretofeelincluded.Ifthegatheringtakesplaceonline,beingonlinebecomessociallycritical.Thissentiment
isarticulatedbyteensintermsofsocialexpectations:
Skyler,18,CO:Ifyou'renotonMySpace,youdon'texist.
Tara,16,MI:LikeeveryonesaysgetaFacebook.Youneedtogetone.
Abigail,17,NC:You'reexpectedtobeonFacebook.danah:Howwouldpeoplerespondifyouwerent?
25Fraser,Nancy.1992.RethinkingthePublicSphere:AContributiontotheCritiqueofActuallyExistingDemocracy.Pp.109142inHabermasandthePublicSphere,editedbyCraigCalhoun.
Cambridge,MA:TheMITPress.(page123) 26Warner,Michael.2002.PublicsandCounterpublics.Cambridge,MA:MITPress.
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Abigail:Peoplewouldaskyouwhy.You'dhavetohaveagoodreason.Ifyoudidn't
haveagoodreasonpeoplewouldbelikeyou'dhavetobelike"theinternetatmy
houseisn'tworking."Butifyoudidn'thaveagoodreasonlike"I'mjustnotonit."
Peoplewouldbelike"Whynot?Getonit.Makeanaccount."Youdon'thavetopayfor
itsoIfeellikepeoplefeelthere'sanyreasonnottobe.It'sprettymuchexpectedyou'reonFacebook.
WhileteensuseFacebookandMySpaceascommunicationchannels,theyalsouse
themasnetworkedpublics,relishingtheopportunitytoconnecttoabroadercommunityofpeople.Atthesametime,theyrenotinterestedinconnectingtojust
anyone.ThroughthepublicarticulationofFriendsonsocialnetworksites,teens
constructtheboundariesoftheirimaginedcommunity.Aswithallpublics,theresporousnesstothisformalization.Whilesometeenshavearigidsenseof
boundaries,othersrelishthepossibilityofconnectingbeyondtheirnearestand
dearest;thisiswhatmotivatesthemtoengageinanetworkedpublicratherthan
justcommunicatingviatextmessagewiththeirclosefriends.Emily,a16-year-oldfromPennsylvania,explainstheculturallogicofthiswhenshepointsoutthatthesocialpossibilitiesofgoingtothemallormoviesarefargreaterthangoingtoa
friendshouse:
Ifyougo[out]withyourfriends,theremightbeotherpeopleyourunintothatare
yourfriendstoo.Iwouldsayitsmoreofanopportunitytoseemoreofyourfriends
thanjustgoingovertoafriendshouse.Goingovertoafriendshouse,theremightbe
onefriendormaybethree.Whereasgoingtothemall,itcanbesevenortwelve.
Thesamelogicholdsfornetworkedpublics.Teensusesocialmediatogettoknow
peoplewhoaremoreacquaintancesthanfriendsortomeetfriends-of-friends.Asmallminorityofteensseekoutbroaderaudiences,welcomingstrangerswhoseemtosharetheirworldview.Yet,eventeenswhowelcomebroadaudiencesdonot
assumethattheyarepublicizinginformationtoallpeopleacrossallspaceandalltimewhentheyengageinnetworkedpublics.
HowArchitectureInflectsPractices
Whilenetworkedpublicscanservethesamesocialrolesasotherpublics,the
affordancesofnetworkedtechnologiespresentnewchallengesthatinflectthesocialdynamicsthatplayoutinnetworkedpublics.Inparticular,fouraffordancesplaya
significantroleinreconfiguringpublicsociality:
Persistence:Digitalexpressionsareautomaticallyrecordedandarchived.
Replicability:Digitalcontentiseasilyduplicated.Scalability:Thepotentialvisibilityofdigitalcontentisgreat.
Searchability:Digitalcontentisoftenaccessiblethroughsearchengines.
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Becauseofthesetechnicalaffordances,participationinnetworkedpublicsrequires
regularlycontendingwithdynamicsthatarentcommonplaceineverydaylife.Forexample,althoughjournalistsareaccustomedtowritingforinvisibleaudiences,this
isnottypicallyhowpeoplerelatetootherswhentheyresocializing.Yet,in
networkedpublics,peoplemustgrapplewithwhatitmeanstoparticipateinasocialsituationwheretheyhavenowayoffullyunderstandingwhoisandwhoisnot
observingtheirperformances.Justasjournalistsimaginetheiraudiencewhentheycraftastory,sotoomustteensimaginetheiraudiencewhenevertheypost
somethingonFacebook.
Anotherdynamicthatteensmustnavigateisthecommonplacecollapsingofsocial
contexts.Whilecountlessmovieshavebeenmadeaboutsituationswherecontextscollideineverydaylifee.g.runningintoyourexwhenoutonadatetheseare
consideredexceptionalmoments.Yet,innetworkedpublics,itisexceptionally
difficulttoseparatecontexts.Theflatteningofdiversesocialrelationshipsintoa
monolithicgroupofFriendsmakesitdifficultforuserstonegotiatethenormalvariancesofself-presentationthatoccurinday-to-daylife.Socialmediaparticipantsregularlylamentmomentswhereworldscollide.27
Athirddynamicbroughtonbythetechnologicalaffordancescommontonetworkedpublicshastodowiththeblurringofwhatispublicandwhatisprivate.Associal
constructs,privacyandpublicityareaffectedbywhatisstructurallyfeasibleand
sociallyappropriate.Inrecenthistory,privacywasoftentakenforgrantedbecausestructuralconditionsmadeiteasiertonotsharethantoshare.Socialmediahas
changedtheequation.
Inunmediatedinteractions,weassumeacertainamountofprivacysimplybecauseittakesefforttopublicizeinteractions.Whenweshareupdatesaboutourlivesovercoffee,wedontexpectourinterlocutorstosharethemwidely,because1)wedont
believethatsaidinformationisinterestingenoughtobespreadwidely;2)itsdifficulttodisseminatesocialinformationtoalargeaudienceinface-to-face
contexts;and3)recordingaconversationorsharingeverydetailofaninteraction
wouldviolatebothsocialnormsandthetrustassumedinarelationship.Ifwedobelievethatourinterlocutormightbeinterestedinsharingwhatwesaid,we
explicitlystatethattheinteractionisprivateandexpectthesocialnormsaroundthe
conversationtotriumph.28Andifourinterlocutorwantstopublicizeeverydetail,itisassumedthatthisintentionwillbeannounced(e.g.,ajournalistinterviewingan
expert).Furthermore,peoplewhoarelikelytoshareasmuchastheycanrememberareoftenlabeledasgossipsoftenbecausetheyinitiallyviolatedthesocialnorms
aroundsharingandarenolongertrusted.Everydaysocialdynamicsarepredicated
27Marwick,Alice,anddanahboyd.2011.Itweethonestly,Itweetpassionately:Twitterusers,
contextcollapse,andtheimaginedaudience.NewMedia&Society13(1):114-133.28Thisdoesnotmeanthatsuchviolationsneveroccur.LindaTrippsrecordingsofMonicaLewinsky
confidinginherareanexampleofhowviolationsdooccur.
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onthenotionthatmostinteractionsareprivate-by-default,public-through-effort.
Thedefaultisprivate,notbecauseitneedstobebutbecauseeffortisrequiredtoactuallymakethingsvisible.
Withsocialmedia,theoppositeisassumed.Theveryactofparticipationinnetworkedpublicsmakescontentwidelyavailabletomanyinterestedparties,
effectivelytherelevantpublic.Ratherthanchoosingwhattoincludeorwhattopublicize,mostteensthinkaboutwhattoexclude.Theyacceptthepublicnatureof
information,whichmightnothavebeenhistoricallyshared(perhapsbecauseitwastoomundane),buttheycarefullyanalyzewhatshouldntbeshared.Disclosureis
thedefaultbecauseparticipationand,indeed,presenceispredicatedonit.
Technologymaynotberadicallyalteringteensdesires,butitdoescomplicatehow
theynavigateprivacy.Considerhow17-year-oldAliciafromNorthCarolina
understandsprivacywithrespecttoFacebook:
Ijustthinkthat[technologyis]justredefiningwhatsacceptableforpeopletoputoutaboutthemselves.IvegrownupwithtechnologysoIdontknowhowitwasbefore
thisboomofsocialnetworking.Butitjustseemslikeinsteadofspendingallofour
timetalkingtootherindividualpeopleandsharingthingsthatwouldseemprivate,wejustspendallofourtimeputtingitinonemoduleofcommunicationwherepeoplecan
goandaccessitiftheywantto.Soitsjustmoreconvenient.Ithinkthattheadults
thinkthataboutprivacybecausewhentheyseepicturesbeingputuporthingsthey
neverhadthatability.Sowhentheysee[ourphotoalbums]orwhentheysee
conversationsonFacebookwalltowall,theythinkthatitsthishugebreachofprivacy
andyourpersonalideasorwhatever...LikeIsaidearlier,therearethingsyou
shouldntputuporyoushouldntsay.ButIthinkprivacyismorejustyouchoosingwhatyouwanttokeeptoyourself....AndsoIdontthinkthatFacebookisviolating
privacy.Ithinkitslettingpeoplechoosehowtheywanttodefineprivacy.
Aliciarecognizesthathowsheapproachessharingisdifferentfromthosewhogrew
upinanearlierera;shealsorecognizesthatthisisrootedintechnological
affordances.HowsheapproachesnavigatingprivacyinFacebookalsodemonstratesthatthenatureofprivacyandpublicityinpubliclifeisshifting.
Ratherthanseeingprivacyasthedefault,Aliciaseesprivacyasaconsciouschoice.
Inherinteractionsonline,sheassumesthatFacebookispublic-by-default,private-through-effort.Shehighlightshowthismodelofprivacyislocatedinanother
change,facilitatedbytheaffordancesofFacebook,asherpeersmovefromsharingdirectlytosharingabstractly.Inotherwords,whatFacebookenablesistheability
foruserstoshareinformationforotherstoconsumewhenandasappropriate
understoodintechnologycirclesaspullasopposedtohavingtodirectlytargetspecificpeople,orpush.Apublic-by-defaultenvironmentdoesntjustreconfigure
howprivacyismanaged,buttheverynatureanddynamicofsharing.
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Theaffordancesofnetworkedpublicsshapesocialdynamics,buttheydonot
determinethem.Howteensnegotiateprivacyinnetworkedpublicsvariestremendously,shapednotonlybytheunderlyingarchitectureofthesoftware,but
alsoyoungpeoplespersonalvaluesandsocialnormsthatsurroundthem.
VariationsinPrivacyNormsandPractices
Eventhoughalltheteensweinterviewedexpressedanappreciationforprivacyat
somelevel,theydidnotshareauniformsetofvaluesaboutprivacyandpublicity.Justassometeenagersareextrovertedandsomeintroverted,someteensaremore
exhibitionistandsomearemoresecretive.Variationsamongindividualsareshaped
bylocalsocialnorms;sharingisvieweddifferentlyindifferentfriendgroups,schools,andcommunities.Theresalsoagenderedcomponenttoit,withteens
havingdifferentideasofwhatisappropriatetosharethatmaptostereotypical
understandingsofmaleandfemaleemotionalbehavior.When17-year-oldManu
emphasizesthathesnotthatkindofperson,hesalsoenactingfairlywidespreadnormsofmasculinity:
danah:Whenyoubrokeupwithyourgirlfriend,didyouwriteanythingaboutiton
Facebook?Manu,17,NC:No.Imlike--Imnotthatkindofperson--Ifinditreallyweirdtohave
myemotionsoranythingonFacebookorTwitter,anditsjust--Idontdostuff--Iknow
otherpeopledo,butIfeellikeIllgetjudgedorjust--Imnotthatkindofpersontolet
stuffoutlikethat.Idontdostatuses,actually,either.
Privacymustbecontextualized.Teenunderstandingsofprivacyandhowtheycarry
theseoutvariesbyindividual,bycommunity,bysituation,byrole,andbyinteraction.Inotherwords,privacyandthenormssurroundingprivacycannotbedivorcedfromcontext.29
Whenteensshareinformationaboutthemselves,therebyincreasingtheirexposure,
theydosobecausetheygainsomethingfrombeingvisible.Thereisalwaysatrade-
off,asteensaccountforwhattheymightgainandwhattheymightloseandhowsuchcost-benefitanalysesfitintotheirownmentalmodelsofriskandreward.
Thus,whenteensarenegotiatingprivacy,theyarentsimplythinkingaboutaloss;
theyreconsideringwhattheymightgainfromrevealingthemselves.
ConsiderthewordsofMeixing,abubbly17-year-oldfromTennesseewhosharesextensivelyonFacebook:
Meixing,17,TN:MostofthetimeImaprettyextrovertedpersonsoIsharealotof
thingswithpeopleanyways...
danah:Thatmeansyoudontcareaboutprivacy?
29Nissenbaum2010.
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Meixing:ImeanIdocareaboutprivacy,butifIfoundsomeonethatIcouldtrustthen
myfirstinstinctwouldbetosharestuffwiththatperson.Forexample,Ithink,likemy
lastboyfriendandIwewerereallycloseandthenwehadeachotherspasswordsto
Facebookandtoemailsandstuff.AndsoifIwouldgetsomethingthatIdidntknow
aboutthenhewouldnotifymeandlookovermystuffItmademefeelsaferjustbecausesomeonewastheretohelpmeoutandstuff.Itmademefeelmoreconnected
andlesslonely.BecauseIfeellikeFacebooksometimesiskindoflikealonelysport,I
feel,becauseyourekindofsittingthereandyourelookingatpeoplebyyourself.Butif
someoneelseknowsyourpasswordandstuffitjustfeelsbetter.
Meixingishighlightingthetrade-offsthatshefaceswhenshesthinkingabout
privacy.Ononehand,shecaresaboutprivacy,butsheswillingtoexposeherselfinintimatesituationsbecauseitmakesherfeelmoreconnected.Herbarriersto
sharingarerootedinhersenseoftrust.Shesnotwillingtoexposeherselftojust
anyone;shesharesbothbecauseandasasignalthatshetrustssomeone.
Trustisaverysignificantissueforteenagersanditregularlyemergesindiscussionsaboutprivacy.Manyteensarentconfidentthattheycantrustthosearoundthem,
eventheirclosestfriends.Alltoooften,teensusetheinformationthattheygather
aboutotherstostartdrama,performinggossipandsocialconflictforawideaudienceonsocialmedia.30Thismakessometeensverynervousaboutsharing,
evenwiththeirclosestfriends.Taylor,a15-year-oldinMassachusetts,questions
themotivationsbehindherfriendsdecisionstoinvadeherprivacy.
Taylor,15,MA:SoIusuallygivepeoplethelightversionbecauseIdontwantthemin
mybusinessandIreallydontthinkthattheyhaveanyrighttobeinmybusiness.
danah:Whydotheythinktheyhavearight?Taylor:Becausetheyremyfriends,sotheyputthemselvesinmybusinesssometimes,
sotheythinkthattheyshouldbetheretohelpmeandprotectmewiththingsbutIcan
dealwithitmyself.
Taylordoesntwantherfriendsinherbusinessbecauseshesworriedthatshell
losecontrol,soshepurposelyavoidssharinganythingthatispersonalorintimate.Butthisdoesntstopherfromsharingaltogether.Aphotographer,sheregularly
uploadsherworktoFacebookpreciselybecauseshewantsfeedbackandpublic
validation.
Taylor,15,MA:[Acomment]givesmeinputanditmakesmefeelgood.EvenifitsnegativeIdprobablylikeitasacomment.Itsjustlikeamessageismorepersonal,
whichIappreciate,butwhenpeoplecanseethattheylikemywork,Ilikeitwhen
peoplecanseethatotherpeoplelikeitbecauseIdontknow,Ijustlikegettinglotsof
commentsononepictureandseeingpeoplereadthem.
30Marwick,Aliceandboyd,danah.(2011).TheDrama!Teens,GossipandCelebrity. PopularCulture
Association/AmericanCultureAssociationAnnualMeeting ,SanAntonio,TX,April20-24.
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Inchoosingtoshareherphotographsbutnotherpersonalthoughts,Tayloristryingtoassertcontrol,therebyenactingprivacybyselectingwhatshouldandshouldnot
beshared.Sheisnotaloneinthisapproach.Manyteenswhoseeminglysharealot
onlineareactuallyconsciouslylimitingwhatisavailable.ConsiderAbigailsperspective:
Abigail,17,NC:IactuallyknoweverybodyI'mfriendswith[onFacebook]...ButI'mnot
goodfriendswitheverybodyonFacebook.ThepeoplethatIgotoschoolwithIknowI
knowwhatthey'redoing.That'swhyI'mfriendswiththemonFacebookbuttheydon't
needtoknowwhatI'mexactlydoingtoday.I'meatingbreakfast,thenI'mgoingto
swimpractice,thenI'mdoingmyhistoryhomework,thenI'mgoingtodothis.They
don'tneedtoknowallthat.Icanjustputanoverviewlike"Practice,homework,then
Allie's,"orsomething.Idon'tneedtosayexactlyeverythingI'mdoingattimesand
stuff.
Theaffordancesofnetworkedpublicsthatmakewidespreadsharingpossiblealsomotivateteenstousemoreprivatechannelsofcommunicationliketextmessaging
orFacebookchattodiscussthingsthatareembarrassingorupsetting,intimateor
self-exposing.
Althoughmostteensarequiteconsciousaboutwhattheychoosetoshare,theydont
alwayshavecompletecontroloverwhatothersshareaboutthem.Facebook,Flickrandothersocialmediasitesletuserstagpicturesofotherusers,whileTwitter
[email protected],17-year-oldJacquelynfindsitweirdandembarrassingthathermotherregularlyposts
picturesofheronFacebook.Whileshesuncomfortablewithhermothersharingphotosofher,shealsounderstandstheimpulse.Iguessasaparent,itsdifferentthanbeingateenagerbecausewereherkidssoshewantstoshowallhercollege
friendsandhighschoolfriendswhatwereuptobecauseobviously,werenotgoingto
friendherhighschoolfriendsbecausewedontknowthem.Itmakessense,Iguess.I
dontknow.
Intryingtonavigateprivacy,teensmustnotonlycontendwithwhattheychooseto
share,butwhatotherschoosetoshareaboutthem.Whilenetworkedprivacyisnot
uniquetonetworkedpublics,theaffordancesofnetworkedpublicsmagnifythisissue,reifyingthepublic-by-defaultnatureofsuchenvironments.Thosewhoare
moreinclinedtoshareoftenexpectthosewhodontwantinformationsharedtospeakup.Abigail,forexample,postsallphotosfromhercameratoFacebook
becauseitseasierforherthanfiltering.Shegoesthroughherphotoalbumsandtags
thephotoswithherfriendsnames,deletinganyphotosthatareblurry.Mostofthepicturessheputsuphavemultiplepeopleinthem,soshesnotinclinedtodelete
them,butunderstandsifherfriendsuntagthemselves.Ifafriendisreally
botheredbyaphotoandcomplaintoherdirectly,shelldeleteit.Theassumption
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inAbigailsfriendgroupisthatcontentispublic-by-default.Suchasettingforces
teenstomakeaconsciouschoiceaboutwhattoobscure,ratherthanwhattopublicize.
Thepublic-by-defaultnatureofnetworkedpublicsisespeciallyacuteonFacebookandTwitterbecauseoftherolethatsocialstreamsplayinthoseenvironments.
Facebooksnewsfeedbroadcastsbothimplicitactions(e.g.,abrokenheartwhentwopeoplestopbeinginarelationship)andsharedcontent(e.g.,newlyuploaded
photographs).ThenewsfeedandTwittersstreamarecentraltothosesitesandthefirstthingthatmostparticipantsseewhentheylogin.WhileFacebooksnewsfeed
wascontroversialwhenitfirstlaunched,31itsnowafundamentalpartof
Facebooksarchitecture.Teensshareupdatestobeseenbytheirfriends,buttheyalsorecognizethatnoteverythingsharedthroughthismechanismisactuallyseen
bytheirfriends.Whilesometeensexpecttheirfriendstoreadeveryupdateand
picturethattheypost,othersseethepublic-by-defaultdynamicasanopportunityto
reduceexpectations.ConsiderwhyVicki,a15-year-oldfromGeorgia,postsstatusupdatesinlieuofsendingprivatemessages:
Vicki,15,GA:Becauseastatusupdate,everybodycanread.Like,everybodywho
wantstoreaditcanreadit,buttheyrenotobligatedtoreadit.Like,whenyousendamessage,its,Ohmygosh,thispersonsentmeamessage.NowIhavetoreadthis.
But,whenitsanupdate,its,like,ifIdontwanttoreadyourstatus,Imnotgoingto
readyours.ButImgoingtoreadthenextpersons,like,ifIwanttoreadtheirs.You
donthavetolookatitifyoudontwantto.
Contentthatispubliclyaccessibleisnotnecessarilyuniversallyconsumed.
Likewise,informationthatispubliclyaccessibleisnotnecessarilyintendedtobeconsumedbyjustanyone.Whileteensmaybenegotiatingprivacyinapublic-by-defaultenvironment,socialnormsalsoserveacriticalroleinhowteensdo
boundarywork.
BoundaryWork
Traditionally,realmsofprivateandpublichavebeenbuiltuponasetof
dichotomiesanddivisions,whethertheybespatial(workplace,home),temporal
(onorofftheclock),orobject-related(workBlackBerryorparentscar).Thesedistinctionsmustbereinforcedandre-inscribedthroughaseriesofprocesses,
whichMichleLamontandVirgMolnrrefertoasboundarywork.32Boundary
31boyd,danah.2008.FacebooksPrivacyTrainwreck:Exposure,invasion,andsocialconvergence.
Convergence:TheInternationalJournalofResearchintoNewMediaTechnologies 14(1):1320.32Lamont,M.,andV.Molnar.2002.Thestudyofboundariesinthesocialsciences.AnnualReviewof
Sociology167196.ChristenaNippert-Engextendedthisnotionofboundaryworktoindividuals
boundariesaroundprivacy.SeeNippert-Eng2010pp.10-14.
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workcreatessymbolicdistinctionsbetweenobjects,people,practices,and
architecturesateenscarisprivateyettheirparentsispublic.
Creating,maintaining,andmanagingboundariesisdifficultandrequiresvarious
interpretivestrategies,traditions,anddistinctionstoachieve.Teensattempttoachievesocialprivacythroughavarietyofstrategies,demonstratinghowthey
understandarchitecture,assertnorms,andattempttobringtheirdefinitionofprivacyintoexistence.Definingandinscribingboundariesisonewaytoregulatea
setofspacesthatdonotfitneatlyintocategoriesofpublicorprivate.Whetherthesetechniquesaresuccessful,problematic,orboth,theydemonstratetheways
thatteenagersareengaginginboundaryworkbynecessity.
Themostcommonwayinwhichteenstrytodelineateboundariesisthroughthe
assertionofsocialnorms.Teenshaveanimplicitunderstandingaboutwhoshould
andshouldnotbepresentintheirsocialspaces.WhenMySpacewasthedominant
socialnetworksite,teenswouldregularlyvoicefrustrationwithadultswhodidntseemtounderstandthatMySpacewasmyspace.Inotherwords,teenswereemphaticthatparentsandotheradultsweresupposedtoknowthattheywerent
welcome.Manyyoungpeoplefeltthattherewasanimplicitkeepoutsignon
MySpace,meanttosignalthatadultswerentwelcome.Toreinforcethis,teensfocusedonexplicitlyarticulatingwhotheyimaginedaspartoftheirnetworked
publicthroughthepublicarticulationofFriends.33Teensdisplayedtheirclosest
friendsthroughtheTop8list,whichappearedoneveryMySpaceprofileandindicatedaffiliationsandsocialcontext.Inthisway,theywrotetheirintended
audienceintobeingsothatitcouldserveasasignaltoanywhohappenedacrosstheirprofile.Yet,evenparentswhomightrespectsuchasignonabedroomdoor,
oftenfailedtorecognizeorrespectsuchsignalsonline.Inotherwords,evenasteensweretryingtoassertsocialnorms,theireffortswereignored;someadultsfailtorecognizethecuesthatyoutharesignalingwhileothersjudgeteenspracticeson
theirownterms,refusingtorecognizeteensagency.
Associalnetworksitesbecamemorewidespreadandasadultsstartedusing
FacebookandMySpaceforreasonsotherthansurveillingtheirchildrensometeensstartedacceptingthepresenceoftheiradults,whileothersfounditawkward.
WhenIaskedAartihowshefeltabouthermotherlookingatherFacebookprofile,
shesaid:
Aarti,17,NC:Iguessitsnotthatbad,becauseIwouldntreallydoanythingbad,butitskindofannoying.But,youknow,sheslooking....Ithinkitsjustweird.Becausemy
mom--IjustthinkFacebookisformyfriends,andnotmymom.
33boyd,danah(2006)."Friends,Friendsters,andMySpaceTop8:WritingCommunityIntoBeingon
SocialNetworkSites."FirstMonday,11(12).
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Aartismessagehighlightshowprivacyandboundaryworkcometogether.Privacy
forAartiisaboutcontrollingthesocialsituation,notabouthidingthingsfromhermother.DanielSolovecallsthisthenothingtohidemodelofprivacyand
vociferouslyarguesthatprivacyisalargervaluewhichallowspeoplefreedom
fromtheintrusivenessofothers.34Nevertheless,theprevalenceofthisviewthatyouonlyneedprivacyifyouredoingsomethingyoushouldntleadsmanyteens,
whentalkingabouttheirdesireforprivacy,todisclaimthatthattheyarentbeingbad.Aartisdesireforprivacyfromhermotherisntrootedinherfeelingsof
needingtohide,butratherherdesiretohavecontroloverthesocialsituation.AartifeelsasthoughhermothershouldunderstandthatFacebookisntmeantforher.
Likewise,whenIaskedChantelleabouthowshedfeelifherteacherslookedather
profile,shesaid:
Chantelle,15,DC:IdbelikeWhyaretheyonmypage?Iwouldntgotomyteachers
pageandlookattheirstuff,sowhyshouldtheygoonminetolookatmystuff?...I
mean,theyrenotgoingtofindnothing.Whattheseteensaretryingtovocalizeisthatsocialnetworksitesshouldhave
understoodboundaries,drivenbyacollectiveunderstandingofsocialcontexts.Yet,
online,teensareregularlyfacingcollapsedcontextsasfriendshipandfamily,schoolandhomecollide.35Teensstruggletomanagethesedifferentcontexts
simultaneously,buttheyrecognizethatdifferentcontextstypicallyinvolvedifferent
self-presentations.
Carmen,17,MA:Atleastwithme,youactdifferentlyarounddifferentpeople.Everyone
Iknow,theyactacertainwayaroundcertainpeople.Andsometimesyouonlywant
themtoknowthatpartofyouIguess.AndifyouhaveprivacyIthinktheyonlyseethesidethatyoushow,whereifyoudon'thaveprivacythentheyseeeverything.
Youngpeoplerecognizethatprivacyisntauniversalvalue,butsomethingthatsrootedinanunderstandingofcontext.Theissueforthemisnotaboutwhocan
physicallyaccessthecontent,butwhoshouldbepresentwiththemandwhatis
sociallyappropriategiventhosepeopleandgiventhatcontext.Toreinforcethisexpectation,teensuseabroadvarietyoflinguisticandstructuralsignals.While
earlyusersofMySpacetriedtosignalboundariesonsocialnetworksitesby
carefullychoosingwhotheyfriended,parentsoftenforcedtheirchildrenintofriendingthemasaconditionofusingtheservice,devaluingtheFriendslistasa
signaloftheintendedaudience.Facebookopeneduptocollegesandhighschoolsbeforethegeneralpublic,creatingastructuralboundarythatisnowdefunct.Today,
manyteensuselanguagetosignalboundaries,attemptingtoclearlymarkFacebook
asaspaceforfriendsbyusingcasuallanguage,socialphotos,in-jokes,cultural
34Solove,DanielJ.(2007).IveGotNothingtoHideandOtherMisunderstandingsofPrivacy. San
DiegoLawReview44:762.35Foramoredetaileddiscussionofcollapsedcontexts,seeMarwickandboyd(2011b).
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references,andotherstylesofsharingthatteensusewhentheyarewitheachother.
Unfortunately,manyadultsfailtorecognizethesestrategiesassignals,insteadprojectingtheirownvaluesontoteenspracticesandjudgingteensthroughtheir
worldview.
Hunterisageeky14-year-oldlivingininnercityWashingtonDC.Hismommoved
fromTrinidadwhenhisolderhalf-siblingswerequiteyoungbecausetheirfatherwasabusive.Huntersmotherandfatherarenottogether,butHunterhasa
relationshipwithhisfather,unlikehisolder(and,forthatmatter,younger)siblings.Hunterseeshimselfasverydifferentfromhissiblingsandcousins,whoheidentifies
asghetto.Inhiswords,thismeansnotreallycaringaboutwhatpeoplethinkabout
you[notcaring]aboutbeingsmartorhavinggoodgradesalwaysgettinginto
trouble,becauseyouwanttostarttrouble,notcauseyoucantavoidit.Todescribe
howhissisterbecameghetto,heexplains,herboyfriend,hedoesnttreatherwell,
andshehasababynow,and,everytimetheyhaveafight,shecutsoffherphone,she
disconnectsherphoneor,ifitsdisconnected,shedoesntwanttotalktomymom,Oh,Imnotfeelingwell,butshesalwaysonFacebookandalwayspostingallkindsofnonsenseonFacebookwhichisoneofthethingsmymomgetssoupsetabout.
AlthoughHunterlamentsherchoices,heverymuchloveshissisterandwantsherin
hislife,eventhoughhismotherworriesthatshesabadinfluenceonhim.Hunterfeelsconfidentaboutwhoheisageekwhoisproudofhisintellectualcuriosity
andprowessandwhoisgratifiedtobeanhonorstudentatacompetitivehigh
school.Ofcourse,healsorecognizesthatnoneofhisfamilymembers,otherthanhismom,valuehisacademicachievements,esoterictastes,orpassionforreading.
OnFacebook,Hunterisfriendswithhissisterandcousinsaswellashisfriends
fromschool;thecontextcollisionsthatoccuronthesiteareaconstantsourceoftensionforHunter.Hetriestomakeitclearthatcertainstatusupdatesaremeantforcertainpeople,buthisfamilymembersregularlymissthesesignals,makingit
hardforhimtomanagesocialboundariesonFacebook.
Hunter,14,DC:WhenImtalkingtomyfriendsonFacebookorIputupastatus,
somethingIhateiswhenpeoplewhoImnotaddressinginmystatusescommentonmystatuses.In[myoldschool],peoplealwaysusedtocallmenerdyandthatIwasthe
leastblackblackpersonthattheyveevermet,somepeoplesaythat,andIsaidon
Facebook,ShouldItakeoffensetothefactthatsomebodyputtheringtoneWhiteandNerdyforme?anditwasajoke.Iguessweweretalkingaboutitinschool,and[my
sister]comesoutofnowhere,Aw,babybro,andImlike,no,dontsaythat,Iwasn'ttalkingtoyou.
danah:HowdopeopleknowwhoisbeingtalkedtowithFacebookstatusupdates?
Hunter:Iguessthatisapoint.Sometimesitprobablyishard,butIthinkitsjustthe
certainwaythatyoutalk.IwilltalktomysisteradifferentwaythanIlltalktomy
friendsatschoolorfrommyfriendsfrommyoldschool,andImightsay,Oh,well,Ifell
asleepinMissKsclassbyaccident,andtheyllsay,Oh,yeah,MissKissoboring,and
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sheslike,Oh,well,youshouldntfallasleep.Youshouldpayattention.Imean,I
thinkyoucanfigureoutthatImnottalkingtoyouifImtalkingaboutacertain
teacher.
Huntersstoryhighlightshowteensattempttoassertsocialnorms,andfail.Unabletomanageboundariesthroughtheassertionofsocialnorms,teensoftenbegin
experimentingwithstructuralandsocialstrategiestoachieveprivacy.
StructuralStrategies
Frustratedbyhissisterandcousinsfailuretounderstandwhatheperceivedas
acceptablesocialnorms,HunterdecidedtotakeadifferenttactictomanagethecollapsingofcontextshestartedtouseFacebooksblockingfeatureasawayto
directlylimittheirparticipation.Forexample,hiscousinsmakefunofhis
preferenceforPokmonorLegendsofZeldaovershootergames.Sowhenheposts
aboutvideogames,heexplicitlyblockshiscousinssothattheywontpostnegativecommentsabouthisenthusiasmsthathewouldfindembarrassing.Byexplicitlyblockingpeople,hecansegmenthisaudiences.Buthealsoknowsthatthisisnot
foolproofandthat,ifhiscousinsweretofindout,theywouldbequiteupset.Inhis
mind,hisonlyotheralternativesaretode-friendthemordeletetheircontent;neitherapproachesappealtohim,soheshopingthattheywontaccidentallysee
thathespostingcontentthattheycantsee.Thesocialpressureagainstde-
friendingisacutetothepointwhereteenswillengageinelaboratestrategiestoavoidit.
Facebookhasnumeroustechnicalfeaturesthatcanbeusedtosegmentaudiences
andlimitthevisibilityofinformation.Whileteenagersdousethesefeatures36,theyoftenhavemixedunderstandingsandfaithinthem.Ononehand,teensgenerallybelievethattheycanuseFacebooksprivacysettingstokeepstrangersor
creepersout;thisisoftenwhatmotivatesthemtoactivelyconfiguretheirsettingsinthefirstplace.Ofcourse,asBrandimarte,Acquisti,andLoewenstein
havenoted,thisillusionofcontroliswhatmotivatesFacebookuserstosharemore
withtheserviceinthefirstplace;usersbelievethattheyhavekeptstrangersoutwhileremainingunawareofwhoelsemighthaveaccesstothatdata(suchas
Facebookthemselves).37Whileteensgenerallydonotaccountforinvisiblethird
parties,theydoaccountforeavesdroppersandgossipmongers.Fromthisperspective,mostyoungpeoplearenotconvincedthatFacebooksprivacysettings
willactuallyhelpthemcontrolhowinformationflows.Aseavesdroppersthemselves,theyvewitnessedcontentleakingwhensomeonesfriendpostsa
responseorreferencesapost.Andtheyrefullyawarethatfriendsandparentsare
36boyd,danahandEszterHargittai(2010)."FacebookPrivacySettings:WhoCares?" FirstMonday15
(8).37Brandimarte,L.,Acquisti,A.,andLoewenstein,G.(inreview)"PrivacyConcernsandInformation
Disclosure:AnIllusionofControlHypothesis."
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lookingoverpeoplesshoulders,accessinginformationinwaysthatcannotbe
controlledthroughFacebooksprivacysettings.Thus,teenshavestarteddevelopinginnovativestructuralstrategiesforachievingprivacythatdontrelyonFacebooks
privacysettings.
Oneofthemostcommonstrategiesthatbothteenagersandadultsuseistoseparate
socialcontextsbysocialtool.Forinstance,someteensusedFacebookandMySpacetotalktodifferentsocialcohorts.Forawhile,teenswouldcreateseparateMySpace
profilesforseparatepurposes;thispracticewasrenderedobsoletebyFacebooksinsistenceononeaccountperuserand,moreimportantly,bytherecommended
FriendsfeatureonFacebookthatregularlyouttedpeoplessecondprofiles.
Mostoftheteensweinterviewedusedmultiplecommunicationchannelsand
consideredthemashavingdifferentpurposes.Forexample,teenswouldarguethat
Facebookwasmorepublic-facing,whiletextmessagingwasmoreintimate.These
distinctionswerenotalwaysdrivenbythetechnicalaffordancesofthemodalitiesasmuchasthesocialpracticesthathadgrownuparoundthem.When17-year-oldManufromNorthCarolinaexplainedthat,Facebookislikeyellingouttoacrowd
whileTwitterisjustliketalkinginaroom,itwasnotbecauseTwitterisinherently
moreprivatethanFacebook,butbecausehispeers,parentsandcommunityhadnotbroadlyadoptedit.TwitterservedamoreintimateroleforManuthanFacebook,at
leastforthepresenttime.Segmentingfriendgroupsbyserviceisrelatively
common,butthisisdifficulttomaintain,especiallygiventhedominanceofFacebookinthelivesoftheteensweinterviewed.
Twoofthemoreuniquestrategieswefoundforachievingprivacyweredescribed
by18-year-oldMikalahand17-year-oldShamikainWashingtonDC.Bothgirlshavelimitedliteracy,butextensivestreetsmarts.Althoughunwillingtotalktousaboutit,ShamikahadMikalahsnametattooedonherarmandherFacebookprofilemade
itclearthattheywereinarelationship.Bothgirlswereextremelycageyandnervoustotalkwithus;ShamikaopenedupmoreaboutherselfthanMikalah.But
eachdescribeduniquestrategiesfordealingwithFacebook.
ToAlice,MikalahdescribedthatshedeactivatedherFacebookaccounteveryday
aftershewasdonelookingatthesite.DeactivationwasintroducedbyFacebookas
analternativetodeletion;userscoulddeactivatetheircontentandforallintentsandpurposeswoulddisappearfromthesite,butiftheylaterregretteditcould
reactivetheiraccountandretrieveallofthecontent,connections,andmessages.Mikalahdidthiseveryday,whichineffectmadeitsothatherfriendscouldonly
sendmessagesorleavecommentswhenshewasloggedin.Throughthis
mechanism,MikalahturnedFacebookintoareal-timeservice,obliteratingboththebenefitsaswellastheconsequencesofasynchronicity.Sheknewthatadultswould
trytolookatherprofileduringthedaytimeandshedidntwanttobesearchable;
sheregularlyhadtodealwiththestateanddidnttrustadults.Butshereasonably
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assumedthatmostadultswouldbelesslikelytobelookingforheratnightwhen
shegotonline.Thus,ineffect,shecreatedaninvisibilitycloakforherFacebookusagelettingherstayvisibletothosethatcouldseeherwhenshewasaroundand
beinginvisibletothepryingeyesofthoseinpowerwhowerelookingforherwhen
shewasntaround.
Shamikatookadifferentapproach.Assheexplainedtodanah,shefoundthatFacebookcontributedtodramabyprovidingaplethoraofpastcommentsthatcould
beusedagainstpeoplewheneverafriendshiporrelationshipturnedsour.Thus,shepreferredtominimizeherriskbydeletingeverycommentshereceivedaftershe
readit.Furthermore,shedwriteacommentonsomeoneelsespageandthen
deleteitthenextday,presumablyaftertheyhadseenit.ShamikasconstantdeletionturnedFacebookintoamoreephemeralspace,destabilizingthepersistent
natureofthespace.WhileShamikafullyunderstoodthatpeoplecouldsaveher
posts,shefeltthattheextrahurdlewasthedifferencebetweennormalandcreepy.
Forher,thisactofdeletionmeantareductioninconflict,andshewastryingtostayoutoftroublebecauseshehadreceivedseveralschoolsuspensionsalready.Thelessinformationthatwasoutthereforjealouspeerstomisinterpret,thebetter.For
Shamika,Facebookisalighttouchcommunicationstructure,meaningthatshecan
checkinwithwhatshappeningwithhercommunitywithouthavingtohaveadeepemotionalinvestment;thisisveryimportanttoher.Butitdoesntneedtobe
persistenttobeuseful.Whiletechnicalstrategiestolimitaccesscanbehelpful,thesetechniquesarenotfoolproof.Theaffordancesofnetworkedpublicscreateslippages.Manyteenshave
storiesofwhensomethingthoughttoberelativelyprivateonFacebookleaked
beyonditsintendedcontext.Whetherduetoparentswatchingovertheshoulderorfriendscopyingandpastingstatusmessages,thetechnologiesdonotprovide
accurateindicatorsofwhatisvisibletowhom,highlightinghowcontrollingaccessisnotalwaysthebestcourse.
SocialStrategies
Recognizingthatsocialnormsandstructurallimitationsareoftenineffective,manyteenstakeadifferenttactictoachievesocialprivacy:theylimitthemeaningoftheir
messages.Thisisnotanewstrategyforthedigitalera,norisitsomethingreserved
solelyforteens,butthecomplexityofachievingprivacyinnetworkedpublicshas
motivatedcountlessteenstoactassumingthattheyarebeingsurveilled.InMassachusetts,17-year-oldCarmenregularlystrugglestomanagehermothers
misinterpretationsofeverythingshesaysonFacebook.Inshort,Carmensmotherhasatendencytooverreact.Furthermore,shehasatendencytorevealher
overreactionsintheformofFacebookcomments.
Carmen,17,MA:[Mymother]tendstocommentoneverything.Imlike,goaway.
danah:Doyoueverdeletehercomments?
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Carmen:No,becausethenIfeelbad.Idontwanttofeelbad.Shesgottenbetter,now
shejustsendsmemessages.
danah:Whydon'tyouwanthercommenting?
Carmen:Becausethenitscareseveryoneaway.Everyonekindofdisappearsafterthe
mompost....Anditsjustuncoolhavingyourmomalloveryourwall,thatsjustlame.
Carmenloveshermotherandlikesthathermothercaresaboutwhatshappeninginherlife,buttheseoverreactionscanbestifling.WhenCarmenbrokeupwithher
boyfriend,therelationshipwasn'tworkingbutshewasstillsad.Shewantedherfriendstoknowhowshewasfeeling,butshewasafraidthatifshepostedamoody
messagetoFacebook,hermotherwouldassumeshewassuicidal.Shedidntwant
toupsethermother,soratherthanpostingasappymessage,shechosetopostlyricsfrom"AlwaysLookontheBrightSideofLife."Hergeekyfriendsimmediately
recognizedthesongfrom"LifeofBrian"andknewthatthesongwassungwhenthe
maincharacterwasabouttobeexecuted.Hermother,ontheotherhand,didnot
realizethatthewordswereasonglyric,letalonerecognizetheMontyPythonreference.ShetookthewordsliterallyandcommentedonCarmen'spost,notingthatsheseemedtobedoingreallywell.Herfriends,familiarwiththeMontyPython
referenceandwitnessingCarmensmothersmisinterpretationinhercomment
textedhertogetthefullstory.
Byencodinghermessagesothatonlyherfriendscandecodethemeaningofit,
Carmenisengagedinanactofsocialsteganography.Steganographyisanage-oldtacticofhidinginformationinplainsight,drivenbythenotionofsecuritythrough
obscurity.38Stegnographicmessagesaresentthroughchannelswherenooneisevenawarethatamessageishidden.Forexample,intheancientGreektextThe
Histories,DemaratushidamessageinthewoodbeneaththewaxofawaxtabletwhileHistiaeustattooedamessageonaslave'sheadthatwasrenderedinvisiblewhenhishairgrew.Inbothcases,themessagewaseasilyaccessiblebutrequired
knowingthatamessageexistedinthefirstplace.39Suchtechniquesarealsopartofcontemporarychildrensplaywithtoyslikeinvisibleinkpens.Steganographyisn't
powerfulbecauseofstrongencryption;it'spowerfulbecausepeopledon'tthinkto
lookforahiddenmessage.ThemeaningbehindCarmenssonglyricspostis,forallintentsandpurposes,invisible.Toanyonereadingthemessage,itsimplylookslike
ahappypost.Andevenifthereaderrecognizesitassonglyricsandunderstands
theMontyPythonreference,theydontunderstandthefullimplicationsunlesstheyrecloseenoughtoCarmentoknowthatshejustendedtherelationshipwith
herboyfriend.Unlockingthemeaningofthatpostrequiresrecognizingmultiplereferents.
38Petitcolas,FabianA.P.,RossJ.Anderson,andMarkusG.Kuhn.(1999,July)."InformationHiding:A
survey."ProceedingsoftheIEEE(specialissueonprotectionofmultimediacontent)87(7):1062
78.39Ibid.
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Whilesometeenschoosetohideinplainsight,otherspostencodedmessages
intendedasvisibledisplaysofin-jokesorobscurereferents,oraremeanttoencouragecertainpeopletorespondwhileisolatingothers.InNorthCarolina,17-
year-oldJacquelynpostedasimplemessageonherFacebook:Yes!Asapremier
ballerina,shewasregularlycompetingforroleswithanotherballerinawhoshedidnotparticularlylike.Sheregularlycomplainedaboutthistoherclosefriends.
Whenthesecondballerinadecidedtoleavethecompany,JacquelynimmediatelywroteYes!onherWall.Sheunderstoodthatherclosestfriendswouldprobably
guesswhathadjusthappenedandthatanyonewhowasclosetoherwouldapproachherin-personorviatextmessagetoaskherwhatthegoodnewswas.She
alsoknewthatifshewasaskedaboutthemessagebyanyoneshedidntwantto
sharethegossipwith,shecouldofferanalternativeexplanationtotheseeminglyinnocuousmessage.Plausibledeniabilityisanimportantpartofthisstrategy.
Jacquelyndidntwanttostartanydrama,whichiswhyshewasintentionally
opaqueabouthermessage,butotherteensusethisstrategytocreateconflict.AsCamilleexplains:
Camille,17,NC:Ifyou'retalkingaboutsomebodyonFacebook,theycanseeitnot
directlytalkingaboutsomebody,buttalkingaboutthemwithoutusingtheirnames,andthen,they'llstarttalkingaboutthemwithoutusingtheirname,andit'sobviously
theyknowthey'remakingfunofeachother.
Alice:Howwouldyoutalkaboutsomeonewithoutusingtheirname?
Camille:Likeeverybodywilluseaquotethatsomebodysaid,andthenthey'llbelike,
that'ssostupidorsomething,whoisshe,andthenanotherpersonwillsayit,andthen
they'll,like,respondtosomethingelse,andkindofmakingfunofthemindirectly,
fighting.Alice:Sowhydoyouthinksomeonewoulddothat?
Camille:Idon'tknow,it'sdrama,kindofentertaining.
InNorthCarolina,danahwasgoingthroughFacebookwith17-yearoldSerenawhen
shestumbledonastatusupdatewrittenbyKristy.Kristy'supdatesaid:"I'msick
andtiredofallofthis"andwasalready"Liked"bymorethan30people.Unabletointerpretthepost,danahaskedSerenatoexplain.Serenabeganalengthystoryof
howKristywasfightingwithanothergirl,Cathy,overaboy.Cathyhadwritten
"She'ssuchabitch"onherFacebookwall,whichwaslikedbyawholehostofCathy'sfriends.Kristyhadpostedthismessageinresponse,andnowKristy'sfriends
hadbackedherbylikingtheupdate.Serenawasabystanderinthisargument,butsheknewhowtointerpreteachmessage;danah,asanoutsider,didnot.Cathyand
Kristyareperformingforotherstosee,buttheyarealsolimitingthemeaningto
thosewhoareintheknow.Indoingso,theycanexcludepeoplewhoarenotpartofthecycleofgossipatschool,namelyparents,teachers,andpeersoutsideoftheir
immediatesocialsphere.
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Whenteenagerspostencodedmessages,theyknowthatpeopleoutsideoftheir
intendedaudiencewillbecurious.Somewillinvestigate,whileotherswillbeupset.Stillothersfindtheuninterpretablecontentfrustratingbecauseitclogsup
Facebook.
danah:Andhowdoyoufeelaboutthingsthatyoudontunderstand?
Jenna,17,NC:Itdependswhoitis.IfitssomeonethatIwanttoknowwhattheyre
talkingaboutthenIlltrytoinvestigateit.Illlookatthewall,aconversationor
something.ButifitslikethatIdontreallycarewhatso-and-soisdoing.Ihavefriends
fromwhenIwenttoMalaysia.TheywereallaboutFacebook.SoIhave50friendsfrom
Malaysianow.AndsometimesIhidethembecausewhatevertheyretalkingaboutis
confusingtomebecauseIdontknowwhattheyretalkingaboutorIgetstufffrom
themthatIdontreallywant.
Someteensviewencodedmessagesassecretsmeanttobedecoded;theyrelishthe
opportunitytoeavesdrop.Yet,forthemostpart,manyyoungpeopleseesuchmessagesasnoneoftheirbusiness,choosingtoignorethem.Similarly,plentyofteensbelievethatjustbecauseamessagecanbeseendoesntmeanthatothers
shouldbelooking.Theyexpectpeopletoignorewhatsnotmeantforthem.
Theseactsofencodingmessagesareawayofassertingcontroloverasocial
situation,buttheydonotalwaysachievetheirintendedeffect,particularlywhen
peersarecuriousandnosy.InMassachusetts,17-yearoldKellywasunhappyaboutherrelationshipbutdidn'thavethenervetobreakupwithherseriouslydepressed
boyfriend.Tosetthestagefordoingso,shestartedpostingmorbidmessagesandunhappy"emo"lyricstoherFacebook.Herfriendsknewwhatshewasuptoand
didn'tconfrontheraboutit,butagirlinherclassthatshedidn'tknowverywelltookthesemessagesseriouslyandnotifiedtheirguidancecounselorthatKellymightbesuicidal.Kellywasirritatedbecauseshefeltthatthosemessageswere
meantforthoseclosesttoher,notpeopleshebarelyknew.
Manyteenshavestartedtorealizethatlimitingaccesstomeaningcanbeamore
powerfultoolforprivacythantryingtolimitaccesstocontentitself.Thesestrategiesallowthemtorestrictinformationbasedonsocialknowledge,not
structuralaccess.Whilenotallteenagersarecarefullycraftingcontenttobe
understoodbyalimitedaudience,manyareexploringtechniquestoexpressthemselvesprivatelyinsituationswheretheyassumethatothersarewatching.
Theyarenotalwayspreparedforhowtheircontentgetsmisinterpretedandtheystillbelievethattheyshouldhavetherighttobeletalonebuttheyareactively
creatingcounterpublicsinfullview.
PrivacyinPublic
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Byusingdifferentstrategiestoachieveprivacyinnetworkedpublics,teensare
simultaneouslyrevealingtheimportanceofprivacyandpubliclife.Theywanttoparticipateinnetworkedpublics,buttheyalsowanttohavecontroloverthesocial
situationsthattakeplacethere.Theywanttobevisible,butonlytocertainpeople.
Theywanttoberecognizedandvalidated,butonlybycertainpeople.Thisisnotacontradictorystance;itparallelshowpeoplehavealwaysengagedinpublicspaces.
Examiningthepracticesofurbanlife,sociologistErvingGoffmanrecognizedthat
peopleregularlygooutoftheirwaytoignoreeachotherinbusyenvironments.Inrestaurants,peopleoftendinecloseenoughtooverheareveryconversation,but
theypretendtonotlistenin.Thisactofgivingsomeonespaceisagiftofprivacy.
Goffmancallsitcivilinattention.40Civilinattentionisasocialnorm,drivenbyanidealofrespect.Staringatsomeoneoropenlylisteninginontheirconversationsis
aviolationofsocialnormswhichmakespeopleuneasybecauseitisexperiencedas
aninvasionofprivacy.Forteens,thesameholdstrueonline;theyexpectpeople
mostnotably,thosewhoholdpoweroverthemtorespecttheirspace.Teensoftenusethelanguageofsurveillanceormonitoringtohighlightthe
differencebetweenpeoplelookingatthemforsociablepurposesratherthana
power-ladengaze.Forexample,inIowa,17-year-oldSamexplains: IjustthinkitsacompleteinvasionofyourprivacytolookatyourkidsFacebookunlessyoureallyfeel
liketheyreindanger.ButIknowthatthereareparentsthatmonitortheirkids
Facebook.Samrecognizesthatmostparentsengageinactsofsurveillancebecausetheyareworried,buthestilldoesntagreewiththis.Inotherwords,justbecause
peoplehaveaccessdoesntmeanthattheyrewelcome.Thisisarefrainthatunderscoresteensgeneralattitudestowardsprivacyinnetworkedpublics.
Bothonlineandoffline,teenshavebeenexcludedfrompublicspacesortoldthattheyarentwelcome.AsGillValentinehasdocumented,moralpanicssuchas
strangerdangerareoftenusedtojustifyyoungpeoplesexclusionfrompublicplaces.41Inexamininghowpublicparkswentfromchild-friendlytodangerous
throughtheuseofstrangerdangermessaging,shearguedthatbyreproducinga
misleadingmessageaboutthegeographyofdanger,stranger-dangereducationalcampaignscontributetowardsproducingpublicspaceasnaturallyornormallyan
adultspacewherechildrenareatriskfromdeviantothers.42Thesesamemoral
panicshavebeenusedtoexplainwhyteensshouldnotbeusingsocialnetworksites.43Yetteenscontinuetoflocktonetworkedpublicspreciselybecausetheyare
40Goffman,E.1966.Behaviorinpublicplaces:notesonthesocialorganizationofgatherings .New
York:SimonandSchuster.41Valentine,Gill.2004.PublicSpaceandtheCultureofChildhood.Hants,UK:Ashgate.42Ibid,p.27.43Marwick,Alice.2008.ToCatchaPredator?TheMySpaceMoralPanic.FirstMonday13(6):article
3.RetrievedDecember3,2008
(http://www.uic.edu/htbin.cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/2152/1966).
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someoftheonlyspacestowhichtheyhaveaccess.44Intryingtocreateaplacefor
themselvesinthesespaces,theyarenottryingtobepublic,butrather,tobeinapublic.Theywantaspacewheretheycansocializewithpeersandmakesenseof
publiclifemoregenerally.
Publiclifehasvaluebeyondpoliticalideals;itisthroughparticipationinpubliclife
thatpeopledevelopasenseofsocialnorms,learntonavigatesocialrelations,andbegintounderstandsocietywritlarge.Thepoliticizedpublicspherecannotexist
withoutthesocialpublicsphere.Byengaginginnetworkedpublics,teensaretakingthefirststeptowardsbeingpubliccitizens;theyaretryingtounderstandwhothey
areinrelationtolargersociety.Engaginginpubliclifedoesnotentailthrowing
privacyoutthewindow.
Privacyisinastateoffluxnotbecausethevaluessurroundingithaveradically
changed,butbecausetheinfrastructurethroughwhichpeopleengagewitheach
otherhas.Networkedtechnologiesintroducenewchallenges,particularlyinenvironmentsthatarepublic-by-default.Privacycannotbeassumed,especiallywhenpowerfulindividualsorentitiesareinterestedinleveragingnewfound
opportunitiesforaccesstounderminesocialnorms.Whenparentsassertthatthey
havetherighttoknowsimplybecauseinformationisaccessible,theyunderminetheirchildrensagency.Andagencyisessentialtobeingabletoachieveprivacy.
Fundamentally,privacyisasocialnorm.Legalregulationislegislatedtoprotectindividualsfromharm.Themarketcompetesinoppositedirections,tryingtowin
bothbyenhancingprivacyandleveragingopportunitiestoinvadepeoplesprivacyforfinancialgains.Likewise,technologieswillbebuiltbothtoprotectanderode
privacy.Butwhenitcomestosocialprivacy,thebiggestbattleswillbearoundthesocialnormsthatregulateit.Inotherwords,whatissociallyappropriateinnetworkedpublics?Howarenormssignaledandviolationsrecognized?What
socialsanctionscanbeusedtocurbviolations?Therearenoclearanswerstothis,butwhatisclearisthatteenagersareworkinghardtobringsocialnormsintothe
equation.Theyredevelopingstrategiesformanagingprivacyinpublicspacesas
theytrytoassertcontroloversocialsituations.Theymaynotalwaysbesuccessful,andtheymayconsistentlyfaceviolationsoftheirprivacy,buttheyarenot
discardingprivacyasaresult.
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