This post was originally published in French only. We translated it in 2026 so the archive reads the same in both languages. Read the original →
The trend toward exposing social media information to others is strong. I already reported that there's a big trend among teenage couples to share their passwords; now it's teachers and employers demanding this information from students or prospective employees. This second trend doesn't bode well and is even more alarming than the first.
Historically, we've had the right to speak freely about whatever we wanted in places that could be called private (a private home) or semi-private (a restaurant, a bar). There's a reasonable expectation that we can say anything without too many consequences. The problem with social media is that people behave the same way there. That's part of the problem, since we expose to the entire planet what should never leave our living room.
Young people, increasingly aware of the consequences, are gradually locking down their profiles and tend to limit their "friends" so that what they say can't be seen by the whole world and used against them. On the other hand, there's a rise in "authorities" wanting to see what goes on in our profiles. In the referenced articles, there's fairly strong pressure in that direction. In some cases, access to sports teams is literally blocked if access isn't granted or if you're not "friends" with the coach.
It's becoming downright disturbing, since in the analog world this kind of behaviour isn't tolerated, and is even regulated by law. It's like putting a recorder in a get-together with friends in a private home, then sending the recording to the employers of the people there, who could then be reprimanded for what was said. That's not far off from 1984-style or "V for Vendetta" surveillance scenarios.
Technology puts disproportionate means of controlling other people's behaviour into the hands of people without many scruples. Do we really want to live in a society that watches our every move and passes moral judgment on it?
References:
ACLU sues Minnewaska schools, Pope Co. Sheriff's Office over student Facebook incidents
Making Facebook private won't protect you
Govt. agencies, colleges demand applicants' Facebook passwords