Hello all and thanks for the interesting discussion. I'm a bit late coming into this but I'm submitting these remarks. [I don’t know what ‘Facebook’ is, but I assume it is something like Friendster, etc. Apologies for any errors caused by ignorance] I would agree with Michael & Kevin’s approach, it is the change in situation/process which has made the users realise their lack of privacy. Mark says: “A student is not forced to join Facebook”. Yes this is true; however, consider their lived daily practice – I assume that joining such a network is part of establishing social networks for students. Thus it is somewhat of a social necessity – to be able to participate in shared practices and be part of what’s ‘happening’. Gail says “The number of friends one has is a status symbol for some students with Facebook accounts.” Johnathan Sterne says: “People have long made mistakes in negotiating issues of self-presentation in their lives, and social networking software simply documents those mistakes.” Ledbetter notes how ‘friends’ are undifferentiated. Perhaps they approach it as an extension of their offline habits – i.e. making friends. And everyone hates a gossip who immediately passes on to the whole world details of what you get up to. I also get surprised at seeing blogs with phrases like “note that when you're reading my blog, you're intruding into my private space” (actual quote); or “…you cant keep an actual diary at home in case your mom finds out that you've been taking drugs and have a boyfriend etc. It's much safer online since most parents arent tech savvy.” (email to me from a blogger). However, blogs are often explicitly aimed at attracting strangers (as a mass media), but the Friendster-type website is promoted as a way to meet friends – your online social club/bar/nightclub/neighbourhood park so to speak. In those public spaces we choose who wish to interact with, which is what this new service seems to be explicitly not doing. Charles Ess’ points (“degrees of control”) relate to this: i.e. we like to have the power to control who we interact with, and when. Andrea touches on this too. Erikson does a better job than me explaining the intricacies of information dissemination. Nancy, I think you are thinking down the same lines as me. Yes, the privacy is an illusion – but their online interaction is still framed by offline contexts. ++++++++++ Julian Hopkins Lecturer - ADP HELP University College +60 3 2095 8791 x2913 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.12.2/442 - Release Date: 08/09/2006