The real social media photo worry of the week

TChong says:

07:05am | 21/12/12

I reckon the need to tell all, have private life put on display ( voluntarily) is more of the desperate need for some to gain their 15 minutes of fame.
Many users seem to think that their lives are so wonderful, and inspiring, that others cant be helped but be impressed.
Too bad the sought after fame often sinks to notoriety, just as quickly, and for far longer

Samantha says:

08:14am | 21/12/12

@acotrel,

I agree that Facebook is pretty up there for being a ‘look at me’ type forum, but living so far away from a lot of family and friends, it does have its upsides.  To me it helps me to feel like I’m still a part of my family / friends’ worlds down south (and vice versa) without physically having to be there.  In the instant messaging sense, they can more or less share the moment with you.

I admit that people that use Facebook as a venting forum or the like does my head in.  Several inspiring posts do nothing for me, as do several photo shots of people doing stupid things.  And as for those who get themselves into trouble by giving too much information away?  Well, that’s their own fault.

You might say, what is wrong with good old email or the like?  Well, nothing really.  But it comes down to a convenience thing.  If you work it properly, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.  Otherwise you are lining yourself up for trouble.

I wouldn’t say it’s an evil creation, but it does need to be treated with respect in order to get what you want out of it.  After all, Mark Zuckerberg does not really give a toss about our privacy, so long as he is making money off what we post.

Elphaba says:

08:28am | 21/12/12

Not everyone uses Facebook that way, and everyone who says something of this variation sounds like an old coot.

Meph says:

09:51am | 21/12/12

@acotrel

Would you pick up a hammer and use it to flip pancakes? How about using a knife as a screwdriver?

It’s not just about knowing the right job for a particular tool though, it’s about knowing how to use said tool appropriately. You can screw the privacy settings down pretty tight on facebook, to the point where you can’t even be searched for, and all your personal foibles are contained to you and your immediate friends list (and arguably the IT guys at Facebook Central). You can also avoid putting personally sensitive or valuable information up there. By all means put your first and last name, but leave out middle names, dates of birth and phone numbers.

It comes down to that regrettably rare resource, common sense. If you wouldn’t shout something from a street corner, don’t put it on your myfacetwitbookgram.

Blind Freddy says:

09:47am | 21/12/12

“Everyone blames the female for letting the photo get out there but no one thinks about the idiot that passed it on in the first place.”

Ah, that WOULD be the “female” would it not?

Al says:

09:49am | 21/12/12

Angus - whilst both need to take some responsibility, the primary responsibility lies with the person who distributed it in the first place, particularly if their is no specific agreement stating that the recipient must not redistribute the photo without the express permission of the original sender.

ramases says:

10:02am | 21/12/12

Soory Angus but cant agree. If the woman or girl allowed the photo’s to be posted in the first place its her responsibility. If some lowlife passes it on because of either a break-up or just because he is a low life shouldn’t enter into the equation. To post pictures of oneself in a compromising or lewd pose invites trouble but as I have said technology turns some peoples brains to mush.

Meph says:

11:00am | 21/12/12

@Angus

” the idiot that passed it on in the first place”

This is an indication that perhaps the girl needs to be a little more discerning with her choice of partner before showing him everything she has.
Mind you, I don’t blame the girl, I blame her parents for not properly educating her about the kinds of assholes, douche nozzles and oxygen thieves out there.

Tubesteak says:

11:51am | 21/12/12

Agree with meph

If you run with wolves then expect to be eaten because you’re really their prey

ramases says:

01:57pm | 21/12/12

Unfortunately Meph parents have abrogated their authority to the schools, Government or grandparents as they both work usually and by the time that the family finally gets together its video games, TV or computers that people react with, not one on one personal interaction and this seems to suit all involved. Parents have a role to play in this whole saga but unfortunately those same parents are doing exactly what the children are doing themselves as this is the brave new world that they are building.
People will always find a way of exploiting those stupid enough to allow themselves to be exploited and this current fascination with sexting and photos is just another example of stupidity.
  There used to be an old saying that has virtually gone out of use but could be updated just for this kind of thing, ” Put mind in gear before opening technology”.

Nicole says:

01:58pm | 21/12/12

Exactly, Angus.

The rest of you, way to victim-blame. The pressure on girls and women to conform in a sex-saturated digital culture is enormous. Did you all miss the bit in the article where the author states that sexts and naked selfies are ‘often coercive’? Girls send these pictures because they trust or have been tricked into trusting the recipient (trust being even more of a problem using an app like Snapchat, which seems ‘safer’). And when some creep, ex or so-called friend betrays her trust, everyone shames the girl. So yeah, let’s teach girls not to send naked selfies, but can we stop turning a blind eye to the voyeuristic and predatory behaviour of the people who circulate them?

Markus says:

02:44pm | 21/12/12

@Nicole, there are already laws in place surrounding the distribution of images without consent. Any girl whose trust has been breached is free to pursue these legal avenues.
At that age in particular, she could even have the perpetrator up on child porn charges (though runs the risk of incriminating herself at the same time).

But if the biggest fear of young girls is for a nude image of them to be made public as the article states, the only guaranteed method of preventing such a scenario is to ensure that no such images exist.

David Hannum says:

02:07pm | 21/12/12

There’s a sucker born every minute.

Tubesteak says:

03:06pm | 21/12/12

When will it be up?