Oversharing Online 

I feel that Facebook has been beneficial for maintaining connections with family and friends over time and distance. It is also helpful for organizing groups or events and quickly disseminating information to friends and followers. Instagram and TikTok are more helpful for visual expression, entertainment, and learning. The drawbacks of both are the unfiltered exposure to negativity or sensitive subject matter, which can be stressful or upsetting depending on the topic. One post may be about something mundane, the next joyful, and then the one after that something upsetting or sad. It’s a lot of emotions to experience in such quick succession. I am not sure there is an ideal number of friends, followers, or connections, but it must depend on the individual's goals. For some, having 10 Facebook friends in their immediate family may be enough, but for others, the desire or need to have thousands of followers may be what it takes to build an influencer's social network. I guess it depends on what each person is using the platform for. Dean Obeidallah discussed the concept of “oversharing” online, but that it may also be a form of therapy or support. I think this also depends on the individual and what they aim to get out of their social media experience (Obeidallah, 2013). I personally am very limited on what personal information I share online, except for my close family and friends, so it seems a very foreign concept to share personal details with hundreds, if not thousands, of people in such a public forum.

 

Obeidallah, Dean. "Are We Sharing Too Much Online?" CNN, 16 Aug. 2013, www.cnn.com/2013/08/16/opinion/obeidallah-social-media-sharing/index.htmlLinks to an external site.