Copyright © 2013 by Alice E. Marwick. All rights reserved. Th is book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Marwick, Alice Emily. Status update : celebrity, publicity, and branding in the social media age / Alice E. Marwick. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-300-17672-8 (cloth : alkaline paper) 1. Web 2.0. 2. Social media. 3. Social status. 4. Celebrities. 5. Publicity. 6. Branding (Marketing) I. Title. TK5105.88817.M36 2013 305.5'2—dc23 2013017042

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Th is paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48–1992 (Permanence of Paper).

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 5

LIFESTREAMING

We Live in Public

Th e 2009 documentary We Live in Public told the story of Josh Harris, a late- 1990s dot-com millionaire who funneled his consid- erable fortune into what he considered the future: people broadcast- ing their lives via internet-enabled closed- circuit tele vi sion. Harris founded an internet televi sion network with channels like “88 Hip Hop” and “Cherrybomb,” but the technology was limited and only allowed for choppy, frame- by- frame video. When that venture failed, he built an underground bunker in Manhattan, fi lled it with televi sion screens and cameras, and invited a collection of scenesters and technologists to move in. Th e bunker also included a shooting range, random cross-examination of participants, and plenty of rec- reational substances. (Th is experiment quickly devolved; the combi- nation of drugs, alcohol, guns, and CIA- infl uenced interrogation techniques did not produce positive results.) Finally, Harris and his girlfriend fi tted out their apartment with cameras, including one in

205

4 cation, and cation, 1 cess of “digital in- “digital of cess , GPS- enabled cell- enabled , GPS- + ed, and publicized. In four hours a day, seven hours four a day, .com included a forum included .com cess by rendering status cation, qualifi cation, on internet has been rapid has been rapid internet on Celebrities use Twitter to stay stay to Celebrities use Twitter 3 ed, qualifi ed, ized the capturing and broadcasting of lar ity 2, rather than I In Chapter countering it. u uence always- of and American Internet Pew e Life Project qual e e website weliveinpublic website e e infl e whole that is largerwhole than parts. the its sum of Social Th 2 cant. Texting, Facebook, and Twitter are to used by teens and Twitter Facebook, cant. Texting, unsurprisingly, last. e relationship, did not blog entries. Th sion, Skype, FaceTime, Twitter, Nike Twitter, Skype,sion, FaceTime, In the Introduction, I arguedIn the Introduction, that social software inadver- may, Smith was his eccentric, the vision future but of to has come vi vi

in touch with fans by strategically revealing insider information. revealing strategically by insider with fans touch in Web 2.0 folks intentionally reach out to followers to increase 2.0 to their followers folks to intentionally reach out Web visibility and social in capital the scene. in promote tently, considered how metricshow facilitateconsidered this pro can quantifi be that something into stantiation” likewisestantiation” works toward quantifi this chapter, I want to demonstrate how the pro the pro how demonstrate I want to this chapter, tablets or smartphones that make it simple to upload photos and and photos have us of upload to many cams, simple it bathroom with make personal large, to information networked While audiences. of that most apartments in live don’t us smartphones or tablets micro- found that 88 percent of American of that 88found percent adults own and cell of phones, than more half go online. do, those to who Of the use their phone 44 adults with of percent a smartphone, access 90 the percent mo- bile internet. pass for a sliverpass the population, of for especially in tech culture. Reality tele phones, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, and hundreds of and hundreds of Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, phones, Facebook, other media have pop days a week. Th activities viewerswhere and could the argu- in weigh on couple’s ments. Th the toilet, that theto twenty- web broadcast publicity by rendering users’ lives in piecemeal fashion, unintention- ally creatinga digitizemedia like information, tools of pieces ephemeral formerly breakfast, had for a bigger one making create what to possible it picture community’s a person “breakfast” or actions. Once of is cap- remain in nearly constant contact with friends, creating strong strong creating friends, with contact constant nearly in remain intimacy of bonds and togetherness. and signifi and

L FESTREAM NG 206 and benefiand of risks the understanding acareful ited to world the self requires Th image. online control own their Th online. not or would share of would what they understandings phisticated haveso- privacy. Most lifestreamers or eliminate toway disregard but a usedas tion; or it to shore israrely argument, an in up support publicize to knowledge; used be can to gain emotional Lifestreaming benefi publicity. of act an as derstood to needs beun- violation, lifestreaming privacy intrinsic an use as where it is expected by peers. context asocial within of information disclosure prevalence the Rather than looking at social media out. playing currently are disclosure and ticity questions on of which authen- terrain isthe because this studying information an selves within economy? is Lifestreaming worth for status them- gain and authenticity, policing, social avoid harsh notions competing of these balance sistency, how doindividuals self- of production, of name authentic knowledge the the in and closes self privacy. If the authentic self of micro- possible to evaluate information disclosure beyond platitudes about information. forms new offorth social it as brings even for status, jockeying encourages and anxiety creates audience of anetworked backdrop the constant monitoring against digital information, becomes normal. digital or monitoring the peers’ and of friends’ surveillance, social context, create mental models of actions, beliefs, and activities. Within this other pieces with of or information aggregated bined, to searched, aFoursquare check- in tured havior as needed be- their of altering others, gaze must the through seethemselves to maintain benefifective costs.Lifestreamers also are there theirlifestreaming, ts to desired self- Framing lifestreaming in this way makes it easier to understand makes way this in lifestreaming Framing it makes property acommunity as at lifestreaming Looking branding is the one that edits in the name of knowledge con- of name one the isthe knowledge in edits that branding ey balance their need for publicity with their desire to desire their with need for publicity their balance ey ts of information sharing. in or Instagram photo, it can be com- e necessity of presenting an ed- of an presenting enecessity ts, social capital, informa- and ts, social 5 While there are plenty of af- plenty are there While celebrity is the self that dis- that self isthe celebrity presentation. Th is 207 L FESTREAM NG

3 u) < open in a Washington Post whole life,whole chunks in terms of rst birthday party, a database, good location southwest So burger. good. Always On,Always Tracking Always Venice #goaheadbejealoussuckas Venice the amazing most place the right on beach in on” aspect socialon” of media, pings the and alerts constant At Seed for the second day in a row, repeatingAt Seed the day second for in a row, a Coraline was excellent. movies Moar 3D please! —Partial lifestream Brown, Twitter 2/8/09 from Tara (omfg!!), Jumbo’s (hello Coraline ladies), Jumbo’s (ArcLight(omfg!!), I Doomies was deelish. he can I hope raise re- $$ to e term “lifestream” a com- was by David coined Gelernter, ArcLight to Coraline. for Jealous everyone of the at Grammy’s! I dont want jinx to I dont me and but @seanbonner it are getting 85% of information: letters, documents, bills, bank statements, statements, bank bills, documents, letters, your captures “lifestream” Your information: of fi video your of son’s footage Lifestreaming sharing is the ongoing personal of to information Th Awesomesauce is on tap for today: Venice casa hunting, Doomies today: tap for Venice on is Awesomesauce Off

article suggesting possible future uses for the “information super- “information the for uses future possible suggesting article wrote: he highway,” a networked audience, the creation of a digital portrait of one’s ac- a digital of thea networked creation audience, portrait one’s of lifestream who use software People and thoughts. tions like Twit- track themselves and to Foursquare about information Facebook, ter, and make available networked it I mean others. audience, By the to people real of digital made up and potential for audience content, Lifestreaming are the user andwho both to each connected other. is the “always- that make smartphones so hard ignore. to puter science professor at Yale University. In a 1994 In a 1994 University. Yale at professor science puter

L FESTREAM NG 208 athletic output). Th output). athletic steps), uploads daily (which Fuelband Nike your the tracks and week),out weight Fitbit your the every pedometer (which wirelessly (which scale tweets Withings the help the like ofoften with gadgets to temperature, from moods life to sex of lives, itor their aspect every quantifi mation automatically. infor- go, on sharing often the while tracking in users assist further played on Facebook, bedis- can that artists and of top tracks charts played, creating Tumblr, or personal aplug- has stance, blogs. Smartphone for in- Last.fm, data. to users share (book reviews), encouraging apps (music), Spotify sites (fi like Runkeeper Facebook sites like Large Twitter for and niche aggregators as serve aspects. both to facilitate designed sites media are mostand social tracking personal information and broadcasting it to an audience, ing a “time- a“time- ing man, developed software that or or that software developed man, later, years A few one of Gelernter’s T. Eric students, graduate Free- or or fi personal private, a envisioned pansive. Everyone who uses the internet has a detailed, per per internet adetailed, who Everyone the has uses pansive. ismore ex- but lifestreaming contemporary part, in been realized without userinput ispassive. site its visit users ofTube every Google’s while tracking isactive, to You- party passively. birthday footage of Posting achild’s video or actively or footprint,”unknowingly, created knowingly “digital ga Th (say) room fl living the out on aqueueof neatly laid documents Imagine anything. Gelernter’s vision of orGelernter’s vision fl chunks as of only documents long,thousands it and exists nize their lives and memories. and lives their nize oating in the void. the in oating self- called is also of aspect lifestreaming e tracking cation, or informatics.” “personal Self- ordered stream of documents.” ordered stream ere are a plethora of online tools for personal tools aplethora for of ereare online personal in for iTunes and Spotify that logs every song forin iTunes every logs that Spotify and 6 oor— ga 8 nized receipts work and documents has nized Lifestreaming involves Lifestreaming pro two ling system that would help people only the queuemight the betens ofonly ga nized fi nized les chronologically, creat- chronologically, les tness), GoodReads and 7 Gelernter Freeman and tracking junkies mon- junkies tracking cesses, cesses, sis tent 209 L FESTREAM NG e day day ized .com, lar six- u can data is Others use use Others 10 Carving: A Tradi- A Carving: improvement. Th improvement. the echo ese projects Th 11 blog collects information monitoring and regulatingmonitoring were both compulsive self- loss programs. What makes .com, which lets people compare compare which people lets .com, Quantifi ed Self ed Quantifi e nd possible causes, and BedPosted causes, and BedPosted possible nd Th 9 ed virtues such as frugality, chastity, and hu- trackers believe that self- trackers believe self- that displays four photos a day of her thirty- her a day of displays photos four identifi coded daily his activities of logs that are so meticulous were admissible as evidence in government investi- government in evidence as admissible were And tracking and counting exercise, food simply or Keeping a diary, even a very detailed is a fairly one, com- 13 12 ee consumed.” ee experimentation tracks as he and mood his sleep, own weight, Tracking one’s personal information is not a new concept. Dia- a newconcept. personal is not information one’s Tracking Many personal informatics are the enthusiasts idea to devoted

cation to monetization, whereas personal informatics frequently frequently informatics personal whereas monetization, to cation to formulate theories on weight loss and depression. and loss weight on self- theories formulate to research psychologist Seth instance, Roberts, has for pop work of artists of work like Antin, Eleanor 1972 whose tional Sculpture rist Samuel Pepys recorded details recorded rist his Pepys daily Samuel of years. ten life for and Benjamin Franklin Johnson Samuel are connected to broader economic goals. economic are broader to connected weight loss, and Linda Montano, whose “living whose loss, and Linda Montano, weight art” works can last seven years. never to expresslyup Such work, however, tied quanti- fi trackers: Franklin a chart kept chronicling his daily adherence to self- thirteen mility. digital a personal create media archive, to such as taking a self- portrait writing or in a journal every day. that they they that mon practice today. Former Senator Bob Graham, Bob instance, Senator for Former practice today. mon keeps color- gations. calories, is a common precept of weight- weight- of calories, precept is a common which encourages track users to their sexual activities. Th be aggregated andanalyzed using customizable online like tools Daytum, which can track anything work” to “rides from “types to of coff informatics, like Curetogether likeCuretogether informatics, their symptoms and fi one’s behavior accordingly are conducive to self- self- accordingly behavior to are conducive one’s about this movement and holds meetups and in holds seventy thisabout cities in movement twenty- six countries. optimizingof themselves and their maximum environments for ev- to practices engineering applying words, other in happiness; eryday life. Self-

L FESTREAM NG 210 codifi on arelationshiping “it’s complicated” Facebook as and categorizes into (digital) iswritten being. breakfast Similarly, his defi intake, caloric his tracking or bowl, carefully cereal of his apicture posting about it, information bytweeting this ago. But once Jim digitizes letus remember alone years week, what last weate for breakfast classifi ers use the internet to make this information widely readable. information widely this internet usethe toers make is ephemeral. Th ephemeral. is pieces oferal information. For what Jim instance, hadfor breakfast instantiation of formerly ephem- digital the requires Lifestreaming diff lifestream the a privacy fi a privacy defi readers of subgroup a or connection internet an with one involves broadcasting personal data to other people, whether any- Lifestreaming audience issimply without an tracking. streaming Th crum, one specifi crum, refl not adirect rectly,” frequent, ongoing emotional labor. requires Th is lifestream e challenging. Like self- this impressions, audience but makes presence of the anetworked tions into cut- of nuanced interac- sorts all converts media bysocial encouraged Lifestreamers can attempt to manage this self to create par to create self par attempt this can to manage Lifestreamers others. but relief obscuring into of sharp life aspects certain casting of par par of monitoredand Th byothers. e audience is a crucial element of lifestreaming, because life- element of lifestreaming, e audience isacrucial Lifestreaming is the sum of a person’s digital parts, aggregated aggregated of sum aperson’s isthe parts, Lifestreaming digital es what interaction.es may Th beacomplex interpersonal cation is po tic u lar types of information; it is a type of fun of fun of information; it isatype types lar people place lter. group of lifestreamers, Inasocial and- ere is no permanent record ereisno cornfl of permanent his ofection but edited aperson, simula- astrategic, cally confi cally erent its from paper pre dried bits bytes. and dried liti The Networked Audience Writing intoDigitalBeing cal and ideological. and cal branding, this management, if done management, if “cor- this branding, gured to be viewed by an audience. byan to beviewed gured e “digital self ” that results iscomposed results ”that self e“digital de de 15 ces ces Th e social digitization sors is that lifestream- that is sors house mirror, akes. Few ofakes. e act of eact ned by tic 14 u n- lar lar 211 L FESTREAM NG mance, for can e term “audience” refer ese lifestreams make the up Looking the collective at lifestreams 16 is understanding an creates audience of ects the community of Members norms. erent from what a creator imagines, a creator from what erent keeping us as each personlifestreams content, of a piece erence between erence publicity an and audience for done presentation, and alter it accordingly. Monitoring of oneself of Monitoring accordingly. and alter it presentation, I use the rather term than audience the describing when public

they are others, simultaneously commenting of reading the content and adding their it, to on mental it picture the Audience scene. of actions by consuming and watch each theirmembers other’s content, a view is normal, so formulate by doing what unac- of or accepted, cepted refl in the that community. gaze Th internalized of a group shows that players constantly reference each other, re- that a group shows players each constantlyof other, reference vealing picture social of a coherent actions and within connections Furthermore,a community. almost all the tech of members scene their to owncontribute lifestream.Th Twitter stream of people one follows, or the Facebook friends. Th one’s News Feed of tech imagine scene will the audience how view their own lifestreamed self- anand thus others becomes expected andpart normative this of interaction. social Th digitalviewers of a piece of content. the imaginedto the audience, actual the or potential audience, au- while resembles But audience” “potential content. one’s dience for mean the to here the I use “audience” vernacular “public,” sense of actual information who of in a piece interested the audience, people actually use the term view as media not Just do professionals it. use not we should watching TV people a movie or show, for “public” audience of also per e use implies Th digital for content. it information made public will help us to understand some of the the of manage- with is created digital impression of a lot because content some in mind.ment While determine to exactly is never possible who it understand to us viewed hashas not something or online, the because actual audi- help diff very will be may ence public made in mind the diff information social dynamics described in this chapter. themselves aspart a networked inwhich of audience participants are and both receiver. sender

L FESTREAM NG 212 the Unabomber. they think old, you’d 23years was person that and networks were You on social would someoneand didn’t applied they and activity haveany be really scared to meet this person this space. in thrives that community sites imagined network the and social like boyd defi danah which costs. social real nonparticipation has that meaning terwoven, audience in mind. Th mind. in audience create and content their with lifestreams readothers’ Lifestreamers consumers to maintain status and intimate ties with the community. content, content both as scene act tech people the in producers and percentage of people create where most asmall of the communities on offl both and element isarticulated audience, social of because the networked superlative example the in that the networked audience is connected. Th fi Hoff Auren As book. blogs, using Twitter,plications to engage and and connect Face- and ap- media latest social the with to befamiliar friends their expect scene. People of technology the part isa normal Lifestreaming a social group that uses social media intensively? media social uses group that a social in look like what lifestreaming does properties, Givenreaders. these content of amorphous mass potential an digital rather than view implies aspecifi earlier explained audience sites. moves across Moreover, concept the of audience as Usenet, soon), (MySpace, and gle technology networked the while asin- worked through asetof public” implies people communicating audience ismorenetworked appropriate “Net- for lifestreaming. public (although not anetworked Iwould as do so), term the Ithink rm RapLeaf, stated in our interview: “If you “If stated interview: our in RapLeaf, rm Th Th e networked audience is distinct from the networked public, public, networked the from audience isdistinct enetworked e networked audience is distinct from the broadcast audience broadcast the from audience isdistinct enetworked 17 While it is possible to describe a single site like Twitter eir online and offl and online eir Lifestreaming inPractice Lifestreaming nes as the social space created bytechnologies social the nes as CEOman, of reputation the management c setof people interested enough to ine lives are intrinsically in- ine. Unlike many online were an employer,were an e tech scene isa etech 213 L FESTREAM NG

22 were vices like protected cally proxi- i that takesict vice, from en- graph graph availabilitye these of Th 18 cally to track personal data for for data cally track personal to While in I did the people technology meet awareness is ambient is akin a sense of to comprehensive picture friends what comprehensive of 19 were a minority. man’s view, the relationship of employer employer the of relationship view, man’s Th 20 icts and arguments colloquially referred as to man are who intimately familiar 2.0 with Web day doings. day Drama is “performative, interpersonal confl to- 21 Lifestreamingles. aggregation ranged piecemeal from like time information. Sharing information through ser through Sharing information information. time improvement, they improvement, Proponents say this say typeProponents networked of lifestreaming facilitates presence, evenpresence, if the participants geo are not cult to contribute to social and technological conversations, but but conversations, technological and social to contribute to cult

otsam and jetsam everyday of life. connections to others, deepens relationships, and creates a source of and others, a source deepens creates of to relationships, connections real- Twitter creates an “ambient awareness” what others, a sense of of creates an “ambient Twitter friends and acquaintances are thinking or doing that builds over up a long period of time. scene who used social who scene media specifi self- self- place in front of an of active, inplace front social engaged on often audience, media.” without evenwithout even a bodyguard. know if that person exists.” I don’t Hoff like people To most Consequently mobility. also economic potentiallylimit one’s technologies, microblogging used period this during knew I people lifestream to and FriendFeed, Twitter, Pownce, such as Facebook, digital location, media consumption, pictures and videos, and the fl technology, not using social not mediatechnology, marked and unsophistication backwardness. In Hoff and worker requires the familiarity of common social ties and com- munity nonparticipation involvement; would only make not it diffi co- co- mate. At the At same time,mate. networked lifestreaming anx- creates often creating social about andieties maintaining identity in front one’s anof and audience, the extra social layers of can information result social confl intense in “drama.” streams to an audience varied by individual and ser ser and individual by varied audience an to streams tirely publicly accessible Twitter accounts to password- password- accounts to tirely publicly Twitter accessible digital fi FriendFeed, a trendy piece of software that pulled in dozens of data streams a semi- create to doing acrossdoing personal the to internet, that blogs dynamically aggre- day- gated

L FESTREAM NG 214 fl “public” how the information “private” the izing and of and managing diffi other. each from away Th tucked usually are that actions tions and connec- reveal can media implicationsand bysocial madevisible audience eff networked same the display that lieus large- defi this norms. While cial or implicit members who so- out violate explicit community to call isused media beaform of where social can norm policing, Drama thesis in fi for her master’s lifestreaming with experimented Jessica Mullen tually everyone lifestreams. everyone tually more ismadeeven diffi act balancing Life Design Methodology.” Design Life It states: diff between ows culties have given rise to a variety of diff to avariety rise havegiven culties 5. I will fi Iwill 5. 4.As my lifestream grows, my reputation and confi for feedback my community with my experiences share Iwill 3. tools in- online with resources and my gauge health I will 2. to my work goals, towards activities my document daily Iwill 1. addup life. decisions to that form your daily the to guide lifestreaming fi Utopian lifestreaming embraces living life in public. Utopian scale study of teenagers, it applies equally to other social mi- to other social it of applies teenagers, equally study scale share my hard earned knowledge. my earned share hard profi Iwill my from life. them eliminate publicly and same. do the and helpand where Ican. of others experiences the observe accountability.and Iwill my sand. the head in stead of burying to meet them. when Ifail even led to which “Thne arts, Lifestreamer’sManifesto: e A nd the invisible patterns and systems holding me back me holding back systems and patterns invisible nd the lls your needs by creating a life support system system support alife bycreating needs your lls erent Th websites, users. entities, and Benefi nition of drama was formulated during a formulated during was nition of drama ts ofLifestreaming cult in a community where vir- acommunity in cult 23 erent ways oferent conceptual- ways ects. Inferences ects. is delicate dence will will dence tably ese 215 L FESTREAM NG - is dences’ ts of the ts of cant or even even or cant While most most While 28 branding. But But branding. t directly from e ‘confi e ows another’s of tracking than the the than tracking able online persona camaraderie build ey share hardtably earned my ts that are largely the to due ts of self- self- ts of ts is the previously mentioned celebrity and self- celebrity and self- e communicative Twit- modes of regulation as entirely positive, while Kate Crawford, in her valuable piece on on Kate valuable inCrawford, her piece 25 Crawford argues that it is the “small details and and details “small the is it that argues Crawford 26 presentation through advertising,presentation sales, or sponsors, While Twitter is frequently While characterized Twitter as a chattering 24 Regardless whether the details of given are signifi 27 One of the most important the most of benefi One

life.” daily the that rhythms events” give of sense “a and fl truthful, streams like feel Twitter listening con- Crawford a voice. to ceptualizes listen others’ disclo- to people as where a place Twitter sures, in an exchange intimacy. that a sense of creates Twitter and intimacy, writes: and intimacy, “Th Twitter and others like as disclosing operate ter, it, spaces. Th stream of irrelevant pieces of information, these pieces of informa- of pieces these information, of pieces irrelevant of stream small gossip, tion, talk, and trivia serve and maintain create to emo- tional between connections the networked of members audience. A study by Gina Masullo time that the people more found Chen camaraderie a sense of they the felt more and con- Twitter, on spent withnection users. other Twitter messages substantive are themselves, in and not Vincent of Twitter Mullen’s manifesto Mullen’s frames self- people in other social contexts might view it as rigid or strange. Th manifesto the benefi on focuses more public aspectspublic living, of are two points worth but Mullen’s of inves- benefi lifestream my tigating. When writes she grows,“As reputation my immaterial and will that shows lifestreaming she the do same,” signifi contributes material the to “Icantly will status. statement to Her profi points knowledge” lifestream. While have managed profi people to some that is a crucial part micro- of online self- others use lifestreaming build to the identifi up over distanceover through the dynamic practice and disclos- ongoing of everyday.” the ing relayed in these spaces create relationships with an audience of friends friends of audience an with relationships create spaces these in relayed and strangers, irrespective Th their veracity. of lifestreamers identify many benefi other the of networked audience. involvement ambient awareness “digital of ambient others, the of or development inti- macy.”

L FESTREAM NG 216 emotional bonds with others using only the cellphone. the only emotional others using bonds with Japa among observed cooning” Cheng identifi taining connectionstaining or bonds.” main- and sociability of “expressing purpose explicit the has that talk phatic as communication— serve they that argues Miller most unanimously bond. Th reinforce and asocial picture larger aggregates echoed by to audience. the But tidbit value or each no intrinsic ably havelittle in with prob-what music eating, to someone are or where they islistening other as such items lifestream, from the person. Individual in knew they pieces people bonds deepened with relational and friends faraway with of personal information to form a family members, and other acquaintances whom users may rarely whom may rarely users other members, acquaintances and family workers, high school friends, ex- book havecreated Face- asemi- like sites network Social touch. in stay to expect people where manager at Twitter,manager explained: citedquently benefi is that ability to keep up with the minutia. the to up with keep ability is that us yesterday.” isgiving lifestreaming What Marshall’ Sarah I saw ‘Forgetting “Well, ayear.seen you new?” in What’s Participants told me that Twitter enabled them to stay in touch nifi like the events that . time area at worth hours discussing have to conversations on for or hour with an day, carry be you can every of sig- counterintuitive to the fact that [with] the person you see seems that And for awhile. of conversation stalls then kind And that. update on whether you’ve like moved or things job. You You status. update the on marital give your the give update the Say say, you and on give new?” time your “What’s to someone talk youDo you ever You’recance. I God “My not going to say like, onees of diffi the t of Twitter. Cheng, aformer product Kevin you’ve been gone so long that you feel permanent address book of former address co- permanent 29 culties of living in an environment Th boyfriends and girlfriends, distant nese teenagers who formnese teenagers strong is intimacy resembles the “teleco- for for mants and was the most the fre- was and mants haven’t talked tohaven’t along talked is experience was al- was isexperience 30 haven’t as small 217 L FESTREAM NG day experience experience day ng and movies. to- were watching their data cess sharing of knowledge were intimidated by the bustling were doing. Video blogger Veronica Belmont, Belmont, Veronica blogger Video were doing. is was especially who people shy important for mants, “intimacy” was a pro e virtual discussions and messages short in- reinforced for described homebody, said, “I very feel described the com- to connected homebody, Others used lifestreaming to create accountability. Personal in- Personal accountability. create to lifestreaming used Others In addition to connecting to In addition faraway friends and acquaintances,

rm’s executives, whom he could now ask about golfi executives, ask about could he now whom rm’s twoeldwork, in the announced scene their couples on engagement see. Twitter allows people to have an ongoing connection by shar- by connection ongoing an have to people allows Twitter see. ing small the day- about information of pieces that provide conversation starters and closeness. Andrew Mager, a a Mager, Andrew closeness. and starters conversation provide that that me Spotify, works at told now who employee ZDNet former him have personal enabled to his with of interactions one Twitter fi person friendships. Th friendships. person munity still I know because their the minutiae lives of through So still you and Facebook. have that through FriendFeed Twitter, familiaritysense of every Others time run said you they them.” into became better friends with acquaintances after following them on Tw itter. Th onlinefound socializing or easier, per- and monitor used technology enthusiasts record formatics to health or loss sonal weight broadcast data, using to often the internet knowing many, that progress. people For Twitter, while revealed a single mother pregnancy her and expressedTwitter, gratitude positive followers’ responses. her for about one another. one about lifestreaming helped people in the scene feed, people Facebook or updates feelscrolling Twitter through the day’s closer to each other. By others could see what a self- social life of the technology community. Lifestreaming mediate their So- to people friendshipsfor through the computer. made it easy cial media was life also announce such events, as major to used mar- riage, divorce, pregnancy, job changes, or family trouble. During my fi in an the much streams to audience, obligation a sense of created way that groups such as Weight Watchers or Alcoholics Anonymous behaviors. desired maintain members help to accountability peer use Similar social to Actions like applied obligations. principles wishing To my in

L FESTREAM NG 218 linked to narcissism, as it is said to reward shallow social connections, connections, social shallow self- and vanity, reward to said is it as narcissism, to linked been has media of consequences. negative Social so haveclaims media’s extensively, havebeenchronicled social advantages While (whichlicly often caused “drama”). violated social rules in signifi people norms. people And who to to hew social encouraging others, cant ways could be taken events attending and to birthday” people “happy task pub- to check- check- to She sawJane hours. had beensilent then useDodgeball for several fi Jill strongly disliked. “Jane,” whom with she drinks having was her that boyfriend pected magnifi connection, it personal also and bonding information facilitated this While graph. social ordinary the over lays that data relational of layer mation is digitized and aggregated through the lifestream to create a check-square a Facebook invite to or seewho was Today,ten down. peruse audience member any can of networked the wasn’t but secret, it knowledge of Thtype is friends. asking or gossiping by relationships or romantic about parties learn Before people internet, would the like symptoms that diminish long- or createsinformation overload attention and dictive, defi of social information that the lifestream provides. lifestream the information that of social use media to social downsides layer to extra the relating were those fects some ef- stories negative about of these technology. scare in While mentioned frequently havebeenproven, butare they linkages these were mentioned byin sus- ed gossip, “Jill,” suspicion, Afriend, uncertainty. and in to a bar on his street and subsequently tweet out aphoto tweet subsequently and street on his toin abar Somebody’s Watching Surveillance Social Me: ins to see who is spending time together. Social infor- together. time Social to seewhoins isspending promotion. Drawbacks ofLifestreaming Drawbacks wasn’t available to everyone and was rarely writ- rarely was and to everyone wasn’t available rst noticed that her boyfriend’s Twitter noticedrst her that boyfriend’s feed for for 31 Others state that social media is ad- mants, the most frequently discussed discussed most the frequently mants, term concentration. term wasn’t invited, or look at Four- were done in view of cit disorder– 32 None of of None 219 L FESTREAM NG ever ever Eng ict to Similarly, in tex- in Similarly, is picture is aug- 36 Th 35 consciousness because us- because consciousness As Christina Nippert- Nippert- Christina As 33 mances intimacy of and confl cess by which social like technologies aware self- for face cues, will people extrapolate iden- to- to- Eavesdropping is a very human action, and people a context that anxiety can provoke and paranoia. Digital traces and nuances are interpreted often 34 ever they can perceiveabout each other, for what 37 only the enables networked of not e presence audience In the absence of face- face- of In the absence Social surveillance is the pro

ers knew that misspellings, cultural and references, even time stamps suitors. potential by scrutinized be to likely were tity and relational material any from available digital information. colleagues and her Jennifer Gibbs that online found personal ads were constructed with a hyper- elicit reactions Socialelicit others. from media a context in creates which are themselves againstpeople constantly monitoring the expecta- others— of tions writes, “Humans are constantly scanning, constantly and receptive to looking what for incorrectly, but theincorrectly, act interpreting but normal. of becomes Privacy writesscholar Nissenbaum Helen that the value aggregation of is in information from meanings predictive and “descriptive extracting mented by information provided on social media sites like Twitter social on provided by information like mediamented sites Twitter Flickr.or Social media has a dual nature is information whereby which a symmetrical creates andboth produced, consumed of model surveillance in which watchers expect, and desire, be watched to Th themselves. connection, it encouragesconnection, it per tual media sociable like MUDs, or IRC would infer people identity spelling, signatures, nicknames, addresses, e-mail from information grammar. and are resourceful from disparate combining information at sources to a “biggercreate picture” social of activities. of the bar. Jill the bar. of this interpreted mean information to that the two know to and her was convinced that intended together, were Jane lifestreams cre- both people’s from Combining information it. about a largerated social picture thatwas through of interpreted lens a In retaliation, Jillsuspicion. tweeted trustworthi- a message about namingness without party. either is put out there.” out is put Facebook, Foursquare, and Twitter let users gather let social information Foursquare, and Twitter Facebook, their friendsabout and acquaintances.

L FESTREAM NG 220 which described how relationships described which game?” your internet the killing “Is called bySouthwest at South Joe proposed and Stump, a(rejected) Aubreyees, Sabala panel onstrategies how employ- them. For to Digg handle two example, phenomenon. this when facedwith others with ships vate.” complicated It self- to isvery manage impressions relation- and dichotomy bythe of “public” explained isnot ordata that “pri- easily layer of relational extra create media an broadcast social through Th emerges. picture anew place, same the havebeenin a row they that friend’s ex- Julie’s that best reveals of lifestream the analysis If transformation. however, a undergo media, information can the mation social using codifi where she shefriends is.If tracks, ble, Julie can expect to be seen there,not, in isolation, interesting. particularly Th and she will probably tell on Tuesday bar alocal visited Julie that night is her knowing example, when combined others. For picture much, it with creates alarger piece each of may information not byitself mean While lifestream. practiced in the extraction of nuance through ongoing analysis of the that goes well beyond its boundaries.” well goes literal that ter something out.”ter something Th not situations where “not to knows Twit- described which everyone problem,” hand “right the left mentioned vs. hand called what they Twitterverse” for noticeable was aday questionable. and Th off silence,” “radio or “dropping example, earlier the in shown conclusion. jump to wrong could the As taken was picture the someone that to interpretation, who meaning Digital pictures posted on Twitter, Facebook, or Flickr bers of scene.bers the common was among mem- my from observation which lifestreams, intensive monitoring and attentionveal of to other people’s detail Th other private. members to group that want keep something someone and lifestreams ent information boundaries, e accessibility and per per and eaccessibility People in the scene recognized these complexities and shared shared complexities and these People scene recognized the in boyfriend was also at the bar, and this is the third night in night in third isthe at bar, this and the also was boyfriend is occurs when a group of when agroup people havediff isoccurs sis tence of personal information tracked and and tence information tracked of personal were aff es, and broadcasts this infor- broadcasts this and es, e bar is publicly accessi- ispublicly ebar ected by the lifestream. lifestream. bythe ected 38 Social media users are are users media Social wasn’t when present ese practices re- practices ese were open were open ey also the er- 221 L FESTREAM NG icts, and I frequently saw Nick Starr the party Nick came to 39 les or Twitter feeds so that feeds they Twitter or les stalk” exes their or new partners. Drama house. ning, Brown used a Facebook invite to or ga- or to invite ning, Brown used a Facebook connected technologist based technologist inconnected Los Angeles mance identity; of others enables in weigh to it boyfriends and girlfriends, rivals, partners. or for party her at c Facebook profi Facebook c endless is created social confl was e incident charged so with drama is hard that to it conscious perconscious Allthis of extra andinformation, the additional meanings it friend), it makes it could visible those thatfriend), other- interactions one

theof networked only e presence encourages not audience the

Some people installed people Some software browser that them from blocked looking at specifi “cyber- to would be tempted not was they wished avoid If to someone nothing wasBut foolproof. the networked to connected their audience, username picture or inwould Facebook retweets, up pop @replies, people’s and other messages. Th sometimes implied, made the people I spoke to anxious.sometimes implied, I spoke to the made people it Since keep virtually close to was tabs on possible with anyone a lifestream, study in my trying,people spoke of and failing, resist the to tempta- tion to monitor ex- Rock Band Rock a nize Th self- on socialon 2008, In October violations. norm Starr instance, Nick for Brown engaged in argument a public and Tara allegedly over stolen Th iPhones. tell exactly only have the principal happened; not what players writ- contradictory theseten by blog have been augmented but accounts, Brown, messages. Tara status and Twitter updates, posts, Facebook media, is programa former manager Microsoft at and TopSpin well Sean to Bon- known engaged Twitter got on in She the scene. a similarlyner, well- have since married was baby shower (they whose and had a son, eve One livestreamed). someone get upset because they because get upset saw a picture their of exsomeone in their Flickr trusted a stream, when noticed or friend checked in with a the Because networked includes audience indirectsworn enemy. a friend friend- or to connected example, someone (for connections of- avoid. wise

L FESTREAM NG 222 which pointwhich he posted: at found and Brown her that well, phone as missing called was Starr he phone that hadlost his tweeted at party: the also Starr missing, and asked people asked on and Twittermissing, hadseenit. they if adate, Ben.Th with wrote: on other names each Twitter.called blog, Inher personal Brown and side of story their the posted long blog telling posts parties Both stealing her phone. Th of Starr She accused denied. then phones, the Starr ing which Starr’s date, Ben,of accused Brown steal- phone and messages, calls, Facebook e-mails, several After stories diverge. point two the At this she it said Ithought my iPhone Ileft at @tarabrown’s placeWTF but 17th 10:24 a.m.was? Oct you number getme of the or whose can @msmelodi place it @ekai party Band Rock my iPhone at that Ileft Crap Ithink think it was stolen it was my from think AT&T my to phone report Calling stolen. I’m sosadto nightbe found 1:12 last since p.m. 17th Oct better my getseven day And . . . [ about 3possible scenarious thinking my Iwas in mind So Th offi is it Well 1:15 p.m. 17th Oct for one. anew 2:15 p.m. 17th Oct sic at at eff ]: 1) Ben took it and Nick knew about it. 2) Nick took it en sucks b/c don’t ensucks Ireally to money want spend the wasn’t there and her iPhone is gone too . . . . . wasn’t her and iPhone. there isgone too cial, my iPhone isgone, stolen,cial, and/or missing. e next morning, Brown realized her iPhone was realized Brown morning, enext e confl ict turned into an online argument. house. :( 2:33 p.m. 17th Oct my iPhone is nowhere to wtf ??? ??? wtf 223 L FESTREAM NG and guess house; she, of 40 house and I as far as I’m concerned, and I as house far as I’m etc. occurred throughout the day. I I day. the throughout occurred etc. 41 whole mess is just too much . . . much too mess is just whole this this so did I. Not one person seems to remember that remember to person seems one so did I. Not I know the truth and the truth as much is that I’m rst email that Nick sent me was rst me email very I sent that Nick suspicious. it’s all over a god damn phone! Tara lost her her lost all Tara a god over damn phone! it’s ank you. ank ed person in a hoodie left it outside her her outside ined person left a hoodie it llippo: @nickstarr are you little a stupid needs who shit what ...... what . . . phone are care people other going what I don’t too. is gone phone my . . . say to re- please a victim phone, Brown is. If have my you as Tara turn Th it. spoke to my Dad who is a Private is said and he who Dad Investigator my spoke to fi the that crime this report to Department Police Mission the to went and they said the same thing. 3) Ben took it and Nick didn’t know. Either way, Nick Nick way, Either know. didn’t and Nick it took Ben 3) this guybrought my into other of lot A it. replace to back pay or phone get my needs to emails, IMs,tweets, the snot beat out of you and you next of out time beat I willthe I see you snot ablige. it. Bet on of out move to time Actually it’s @NickStarr DieLaughing: SayingSan Francisco. ‘Fuck @tarabrown’ was the last straw. local. are not Leave soon. You . . . done I’m Jpdefi

Brown’s phone was returned phone after (an series events of Brown’s a complicated unidentifi course, believed this while person was Starr Starr), claimed that his was still missing. Starr with responded an equally post responding these long to (callingtweets points a “lying her and refuting Brown’s each of cunt” and a “manipulative liar”) and concluded: Brown’s friends accusing began Starr postingBrown’s messages Twitter on oftheft:

L FESTREAM NG 224 play out in public, and serve as entertainment for audience. the entertainment as serve and play out public, in holders its in outcome. Confl amplifi sages. Th sages. mes- digital beyond simply reading participation for active allows which lifestream, the audience isconnected through networked the broadcast audience, present the member of conversation. the Unlike become ever- opinions thereby to an and addtheir Facebook walls Twitter able own to are and usetheir accounts, blog comments, or intrinsically involved is in any event publicized over media, social audience. Th of networked the nature is the some that of Starr’s followers and overlapped, but Brown likely this followers. It thousand is two hadmore but than Starr drama, the amplifi followers Twitter over athousand scene. people Having the and followers, in in it in such a way as to the sympathy gain maximum from friends, involvement incident their the and portrayed Starr and Brown Both high school.” While Starr was not a particularly pop not was aparticularly Starr school.”high While “like or being as a“mob mentality” having situation as the izing publicly, situation some the character- with scene forthe handling number at time). the One in her large audience arelatively (she was which followers, had1,205 community,the hadabused Brown power of some that the believed cal threats, um, yeah. um, threats, cal combined. not then to but physi- only do And that, to make gantic loud speaker especially Th right? public, with Sean [Bonner],you . aswhat well,of responsible you haveto that, be like things . . . number of the and followers with much online power that when and you have comes power responsibility” great great “With like, quote. Spiderman was And I madeacheesy When the dust cleared, both players players both dust cleared, the When setof created stake- awider media of social cation ability e incident was debated both online and in- and debated eincident online both was ed Brown’s accusations, other people bringing into at’s like going at’s on aloud like speaker. It’s agi- for for icts like these are dramatized as they they as dramatized are these icts like mant told me: what accusations you make in in what accusations you make were criticized by people in in people by criticized were you should be very very be you should e networked audience enetworked person, and the the and person, u lar member of lar 225 L FESTREAM NG is sor to Foursquare, to sor ces de ere have beensitua- es the amount of dramaes the of amount and provoking to my interviewees. interviewees. my to provoking based pre FOMO based socialbased software, popularity its in While many tech scenesters told me that they they that me told scenesters tech many While 43 Deciding laundry in doing have a quiet night to 42 were especially anxiety- based social software like Dodgeball, Foursquare, and and it’s like “Hey, they’re right in my neighborhood. neighborhood. in my right they’re like “Hey, and it’s ict as other people besides theict as original people other two players become I mean, there are people that I care about that I’m reallyI mean, there that are I care that I’m in- people about Th to. up they’re what know to terested that and are doing people seen out going I’ve where tions stuff so I like as like that. Do I see it go hangLet’s a status out,” thing? I guess. are who all people When of see a lot you like this at party” this at I’m party. I’m Hey, “Hey, and you’re like it’s “Whynot, party?” her at am I not vices like Dodgeball, the SMS-

Ser can like seem the with faced wrong when decision pictures and tweets friends from something fun. doing that looks more Megan McCarthy explained: Location- Location- BrightKite and a place broadcast to in” “check to use these applications People friends,their to making location friends see where and to possible it acquaintances are all at times. friends If ten the checked a bar, into been invited.eleventh Th friend hadn’t she why would wonder feeling is recognized “fear or by many in the as tech scene FOMO, missing out.” of Further, can while ac- as be seen involvement promoting audience socialcountability, media also amplifi involved in the argument, chiming readers in as much blog gossip the in celebrity latest on weigh feud. or divorce confl loved that aspect of location- expectations a set of created the scene and social pressure. Kevin that Dodgeball me told so much Cheng had inspired him go out to were developed with were developed the facilitating ideal of connec- spontaneous friends. with tions

L FESTREAM NG 226 at all. at madeit for public hard to eyes Chan engage potential audience, the intoread it.” things some people enjoyed While for performing an readinto possible their meaning, or sound stupid, people will they’ll [I’m] hypersensitive, because I’m or unable tweets to post afraid write at the intersection of online and face- Adrian Chan, an intense, ce itself. in foundSome concept even the audience of paralyzing an debated appropriateness and the media of others. had madeover social Th concealed. be whatand should Th appropriately. they whether and community the in status their were participating to do. better something always always- of people connected geographic proximity through it just this was a good sense for what’s going on at a high level. And I’ll know if if know a goodsensefor what’s I’ll going on And at level. ahigh have to noise bit, the for my dip toe itout, in a little getback I’ll and are, naturally, available to socialize at about time.” same the to socialize available naturally, are, able to switch locations eff tionary mobility and leisure time. Th time. leisure and mobility tionary discre- assumes “Dodgeball.com write, Dourish and Williams as in the scene. Notably, social software is explicitly designed for this; the importance of in- off Dodgeball that he “Th explained, coach, executive an Larson, Dale at atime. alittle pling overload. sam- it, as Some such adopted for techniques managing created information lifestreaming that believed participants Many precisely for young, urban people like those in the tech scene. tech the in those people like forprecisely urban young, ser words, other ere’s too much goodstuff Lifestreaming created other anxieties. People about worried created other anxieties. Lifestreaming on internet ser ser internet on wasn’t getting his work, or his laundry, done. laundry, or work, his his Chengwasn’t getting turned to avoid FOMO. Location- ey fretted over what information should be revealed revealed be should information what over fretted ey vices like Dodgeball and Foursquare are designed designed are Foursquare and Dodgeball like vices Overloading onInformation person interactions for cementing one’s status vices that gave rise to a feeling that there was was there that to afeeling rise gave that vices ortlessly to socialize with friends, who friends, with to socialize ortlessly to read out there. But if I just plug in re bral interaction designer, said, “I’m designer, interaction said, bral ey regretted certain remarks they they remarks certain regretted ey e ser to- face socializing, and shows face socializing, based social software sits sits software based social vice expects users to users be expects vice 45 44 But But In 227 L FESTREAM NG - sion, sion, vi vi were being vice more “effi the from ey’re here, it was it veryhere, in- whole, causes behavioral or emo- tele including sources, ine were using Twitter extensively, and extensively, were using Twitter rst started ey just seem date. to Twitter so up mants consumed huge amounts of informa- for mance aspects that relationships of and on offl erent for mants with several would hundred friends, Twitter ons that helped them use the ser ser the use them helped that ons tech culture, told me: told culture, tech for ects of internet access on attention span are debated debated are span attention on access internet of ects that? like, ey’re did just, did you “Oh, Twitter you It is impossible, however, to conclude from this whether 46 term eff e realization that people Th I almost that are say the people futuristic. Th future. Th this?” Th you Twitter Did are people inside itself, to up so just but is a phenomenon I fi me, when for Even date. timidating. Now, I kind of feel like I’ve caught up. But, for for But, up. caught I’ve like feel of kind I Now, timidating. in, new jumping they would be totallysomeone bombarded and overwhelmed with it.

Twitter, let alone as the let a internet Twitter, tional changes. My in tion from many diff many from tion books, and newspapers. there’s something I want to actively go after.” In the something staying scene, activelywant I to go after.” there’s current of top issues likeon mark is a status. of Events gadget launches, tech controversies,breaking news stories, and funny quickly spread memes through the networked and audience, people announce and discuss to reading By a small them. used Twitter sample of his tweets, Larson believed he could were being talked and thus maintain stay about status and connection up on issues that withto comfortable the Andrewthe San seemed scene. who Mager, hyper- Francisco were very their closely tweets, monitoring the strategic reinforced posturing and per Plenty of people told me that they blocked Twitter during the day day the during Twitter blocked they that me told people of Plenty Others boost their certainto productivity. checked only at it times, installedor add- ciently.” For in For ciently.” everyupdate creating distraction. few seconds, a constant While the long- heatedly in the media, anecdotal evidence I found that the always- was both distracting nature constantly updated on, Twitter and of addictive.

L FESTREAM NG 228 framed within a discourse of privacy. usually sites network are social in of disclosure information Issues to publicity. but ashift as for privacy, not adisregard as sharing information this scene framed Ifound most that people the in surveillance? and of sharing ture personal information? How did people navigate privacy in this cul- somuch why peoplesuspicion. did share downsides, Given these and engendered anxiety it also network, to connected the remain and others positively, with ties for away as people social to build maintained through social media. Although monitoring was framed privacy,” two. the but havefound others no correlation between for of regard “lack with disclosure” “information confuse studies Many vulnerable. themselves data making and personal revealing but unknowingly privacy expecting disclosure, information their Th the SocialWeb tion to but of publicity. gaining My in alens not through of privacy, losing online disclosure information ing Th is discourse maintains that social media users are credulous about credulous are users media social that maintains isdiscourse isinconsistency becomes when understood more evaluat- clearly and in online communities. online in and sites, blogs, network social world the via with information personal share willingly they while not beinfringed will or Th private intimate. data are their their information, while at the same time they act as though what may know happen to users Many stalkers. orers even ser merchants, byadvertisers, duced mined and repro- may besearched, they online, data exist when personal accessible number of to avast people. Yet usually are online posted are information that Communications personal and Privacy Online: Perspectives on Privacy andSelf- Online: Perspectives onPrivacy Privacy Disclosure in summarizes: Privacy versus Publicity versus Privacy for for 48 mants chose to reveal information to chose mants reveal 47 For introduc- the example, ey expect their privacy privacy their expect ey vice provid- 49

229 L FESTREAM NG 55 PR: A For in- For 51 But once a once But Publicizing nd (through ese are steps 53 54 Th 52 may e requestor branding strategies. It e ability publicize— to is a basic survivalis a basic skill in cess, scans the documents, disseminated.” provided information. In ords to be found. Th nd information, the ease of locating promotion, and to participate andto in the promotion, celebrity and self- celebrity and self- Information that is public can, in the- in can, public is that Information tested publicitytested strategies are everywhere ords of an of acrimoniousords celebrity divorce 50 interestingort make (by placing to more it eld- eld- Stuart writes, “Th Ewen erence betweenerence making information and public takesort fi it to nd the court rec ords department,ords request them from thend court rec cal reasons, for self- cal self- reasons, for ords areords publicized, “hyper- or liti liti cant barriers to obtaining the information, and so place it in a a in it place so and information, the obtaining barriers to cant house, fi is a diff ere lifestreaming, of e status element that is, the way that people Th Th

tabloid reporter goes through this tabloid pro and adds headline, an website, enormous the them tabloid on puts rec the information is thus an eff withfi to easier site a large headline), a tabloid on it is online). it obtain and (once to easier indexes), other or Google stance, imagine that the rec drive must read them, one California a to are made public. To court social life they the allbut scene, of maintained carefully considered boundaries between information they would and publi- would not online. cize state of what law scholars call “practical obscurity.” “practical call scholars law signifi what of state ory, be accessed by virtually anyone, but in practice will probably probably will practice in but anyone, virtually by accessed is be publicized is ory, that information contrast, In few. a by seen be only strategically through a greater audience made visible three to di- the eff mensions: publicizing “Public” it. freedom, participation, implies democracy, whileand inclusion, “publicity” suggests openness, visibility, atten- status,tion, and spectacle. an archivist, the and wait rec for for po po for share personal information with others in exchange for inclusion and and inclusion exchange in for with others information personal share intimacy within the technology scene, encourages publicity. Publicityis a crucial micro- of element that information, and the interest in that information. that in interest the and information, that be able, at best, to make a photocopy to take to home. make best, to at a photocopy be able, Social History of Spin, of History Social is the strategic promotion of self- self- of is the strategic promotion institution— issue, or self, concept, product, contemporary life, and fi

L FESTREAM NG 230 to be found.” be to power and injustice: and power on is acheck transparency that claims shady activities, various in governments and corporations documents implicating hosts leaked awebsite that freedom. For and WikiLeaks, countability instance, holds that transparency of Web ideals which stantiation 2.0, of participatory open and the is highly valued for in- aphysical a“public was For to, life” living people many Italked its contribution to ac- comes acelebrity, icon.” ahuman economicor the when profession, she reaches apex be- aspirant the . economic. . become asset acritical to “At present has oneself economicwrites, ability the level, every Sternberg Ernest audience. and As visibility, status, toselves gain them- publicize to people encourage that metrics status incorporates which media, applied and to social product and marketing culture rity Indeed, they Indeed, they need for no the one privacy. Imet dismissed information disclosure, about groups of attitudes distinct Idocumented several ity. While and transparency is greater than ever. than isgreater transparency and unaccountable needvested in for the corporations, openness demo much ofToday, the around power governments in authoritarian with world, belowered information can important . of conveying risks . . increasing authoritarian tendencies in nological advances— advances— nological information. requires . . scrutiny . this believe people. We own their as worldby the well community, as benefi governments can All racies. democ- stronger government and better reduced corruption, We believe that transparency in government activities leads to cratic governments, and increasing amounts of power 56 were primarily motivated bypublicity. were primarily Th ese public relations strategies are drawn from celeb- from drawn are public relations strategies ese Publicity asFreedom Publicity the internet, and cryptography— cryptography— internet, and the 57 Th is is only possible with public- within anywithin industry, corporation scrutiny t from increased 58 But with tech- with But the 231 L FESTREAM NG

59 source software. In level summary doc- al structure of activ- of structure al tion tion that increased transpar- za za i the meaningection about of gan is act openness useful of is neither new creates opportunities e internet for of Networks e Wealth For example, climatology asked when for For statis- disclosure is framed and enact as embrace a way to Lawrence Lessig argues that “open code is a foun- 61 were removed, inviteswere removed, refl were realized in the or In Chapter 1, I discussed openness and ideals 1, of how In Chapter ects website to explain to ects website certainwhy search results for 60 ere is a distinction between openness and transparency: open- Th

Act makes Information of government manyU.S. Freedom e

ist groups andist groups in the licenses free of and open- this context, self- self- context, this the openness principles of in everyday life. makingness is about all information available, whereas transparency therehappens when is a policy making of useful and relevant infor- available.mation dation to an open society” and compares open code to public public to code open compares Simi- and transparency.) values that actions could also strategy relations a public be considered (Google’s audience society” an to appeal to open designed an to 2.0, Code in larly, dation lawmaking. transparency transparency culture and thus encourages participatory, culture. or “writable,” ernments and constituents or corporations and customers. Yochai Yochai customers. and corporations or transparencyfacilitating by and cheap easypublishing, document widespread feedback, constituents and increased between communication gov- and ernments Benkler writes in Th Th Th documents available by request, reinforcingthe that idea the people know.” to “right a have ument that can be consumed easily, however, is both useful and and useful both is a in however, out” “hang easily, tics, an environmental agency make might hundreds thousands of to available. pages raw data of of Th consumed everything be can and disseminating Creating readable. nor a top- allowing that means ument life readable and represents transparency. Similarly, true openness in personal one’s mean- and useful provides transparency whereas way, nonselective is what information, personal When considering ingful information. “meaningful” vary that may judgment is a normative widely among the distinction But the audience. of betweenmembers revealing ev- erything and selective divulgence is important. ency in corporate decisions, such as Google’s use of a link to the the to link a of use Google’s as such decisions, corporate in ency Chilling Eff “Scientology”

L FESTREAM NG 232 culture will change for the better. Dale Larson stated: for Larson better. the change Dale will culture and against information, bediscriminated nobodypersonal can enough geously reveals pioneer everyone principles of If the openness. people place, must coura- takes shift social larger this view, until minority rights. “Gay rights” for respect increased and subcultures of hidden previously bility visi- demonstrated as increased bythe greater transparency, toward Th prosecution. or beauthentic peoplegreater which can freedom in without judgment of era anew bysome signifying heralded as was “public living” internet. the Th via habits, or emotional vulnerabilities sexual use, drug one’s may involve they disclosing life, personal more important. He also suggests aversion suggests ofmore that “authenticity” He important. also benefi social bravery, eventual and the but that he believes emotional eff requires consequences “publicative that and living” truthfully and authentically. Larson acknowledges the possible neg- one’s of downside living formerly isthe life acts private publicizing caused by drama the weathering viewpoint, toAccording this “coming out” framed as a brave, po abrave, as “coming framed out” that, you know, very much comes with some much comes you tradeoff know, with that, very up Facebook on your picture . . . that critical mass Th mal!” happens, it’s an Idon’t that, thing some know, weird freaky that’s what’s act nor- of courage toabout, put or some weird freaky that thing that wefantasize thing of freaky havesome us weird ity, all isthat stop, when you say, human- with “Oh, what, afact you know point you that’s the at is, which thing weird little their ever what- isout with there really pointAt the where everybody on it. to discriminate to pay try anybody attention and to it all enough it information, posing private becomes too honest for ex- of isreached everybody mass pointAt the where critical When the ideals of openness and transparency are applied to are transparency and of openness ideals the When ere’s no such thing as a weird freaky thing. But until But thing. until ere’s aweird freaky as no thing such is mindset holds that society is inevitably moving moving isinevitably holds society ismindset that were often off were often liti and it’s an act of courage cal act. cal ered as an example, with we’re of, or afraid 62 According to this to According this s. is type of istype ts are are ts ort ort 233 L FESTREAM NG

63 u- tic tic ce. er in erence erence ood gates to change. ce some amount of of amount ce some cal ideologies that position position that ideologies cal liti liti if you want to talk about about talk to want you if us openness online becomes a ect the diff realities people how of ever, then I think ever, it good because that’s we’re not using it. As opposed to a lot of of a lot As to using opposed it. not we’re self, although it a single, “authentic” of e idea gures areexpected live to conservative lives. ned as publicity, not simply a lack artifi simply of not asned publicity, Th es Western ideals democracy of es and Western for freedom 64 erence in I thinkerence the world, the of one that’s whole and even ifwhole you make them jealous that you face. to- to- presentation regardlesspresentation circumstance. of this Under par nition of authenticity, an honest and forthright person will person forthright and honest an authenticity, of nition cal act. Idealizing openness implies that there should be no diff no be should there that implies openness Idealizing theocracies, it’s like they don’t have that choice, right? So, So, right? choice, that have don’t they like it’s theocracies, can you inthe set a better the more people example for as a world have an free open, society and want . . . break open. It’s . . . unstoppable making a diff any things important most the of one probably is that things we have the privilege Like a free okay, us can of of be doing. come how society, Computer scientist Tantek Çelik further scientist Tantek Computer claimed that “living ifAnd, that means know, you I sacrifi opportunities what that. free do feel And to to people more for theopens door like do that, people the it’s more eventually the fl liti liti

is position follows conservative po po conservative follows position is

in self- self- in American society as a global freedom and of democracy. model Th the ways they use gesture, language, manage to impres- and tone face- sions lar defi theybe who regardless “really are” is listening. who consistently, of thisBut view refl does not He believes that he can combat this viewpoint and challenge challenge and viewpoint this Çelik expressed frustration with saw as he the what status no- quo combat can he fi authority that tion that believes He authority by simultaneously being in a leader the technology com- munity and living in public. Th po in public” exemplifi public” in the the rest world: of implies thefull disclosure very be may what of Au- personal habits. defi thus is thenticity

L FESTREAM NG 234 place” (he later claimed he was joking). he was place” (he later claimed anyonewant to know, you shouldn’t maybe bedoing it fi the in youdon’t that youhavesomething “if toldof that Google, CNBC sary for people who have “something to hide.” Eric Schmidt, CEO practice. social actual one at with odds construction, is asocial culture, American contemporary in of currency deal agreat carries nores the myriad of other reasons that privacy isnecessary. of privacy other reasons that nores myriad the ig- secrecy as privacy conceptualizing that argue Nissenbaum all allegedly in retaliation. in allegedly months outlet for news afterward, to technology several the talk not did Schmidt information online. about him posted personal and C|Net outlet tested news whensumption tech was Schmidt Googled the in photo appearing naked of himself number or a card credit his want would do not Schmidt I believe about themselves available: everything making rather than reveal what in about they selective being istalking lives personal their in who openness advocates everyone hold up scrutiny. under Virtually nately, yetit U.S. not does population, general the in widespread unfortu- is, activities illegal in for engaging those necessary only function. however, ideological an should has bepublicized, of life aspects specifi ofdisclosure personal information, but instead along transparency about complete not are talking they public, in living idealize Larson power, and, overall, of imbalance accountability, corporate government and an creates compromises social freedom. When Çelik or engaging in them. Th them. in engaging people inhibit from can activities of legal “Even surveillance writes: not mea mea not po in to engage which of freedom with degree the and points expressed of reduce range view- they the among because, other things, ety eff rights. Chilling their exercising from deterred are liti Promoting transparency also implies that privacy is only neces- isonly privacy that implies also Promoting transparency Privacy theorists Daniel Solove, Priscilla Regan, and Helen and Regan, Solove, Priscilla Daniel theorists Privacy cal activity.”cal c lines, namely drug use and sexuality. Th sexuality. useand drug namely c lines, sured simply by focusing on the par par on simply the byfocusing sured 68 Allowing absolute Allowing electronic limits surveillance e value of protecting against chilling eff chilling of against protecting evalue 66 65 New York Times. New Th tic e idea that privacy is eidea privacy that u e belief that these lar individuals who individuals lar ects harm soci- harm ects Th 67 is pre- Solove ects ects is rst 235 L FESTREAM NG ect We a in erent erent lar kind of u at social at tic tic ect the cur- what cial, and the tools but vices that have people rms, data aggregators, and and aggregators, data rms, erent erent ser Facebook and Apple are notoriously are and Apple notoriously Facebook t from information disclosure. information t from Mark 69 disclosure dangerous. Furthermore, upholding upholding Furthermore, disclosure dangerous. Foursquare, Face- or Twitter, depend on people e more ey frame openness as socially benefi lipped—but only personal openness. While people like Lar- like people While openness. personal only lipped—but huge way and allhuge these diff Promoting absolute opennessdisregards absolute Promoting theprivilege most of And then in the last 6 years, 5 or blogging has taken off rent socialrent are. norms view it as our role in the system to constantly be innovating innovating be constantly to system the in role our as it view refl to is system our what updating be and kinds, openly more and with Th but people. more . . . something is just norm that time over has evolved sharing all this information. People have really have com- sharing gotten all People this information. only sharing not fortable and information diff more

people in the tech scene. It is one thing for a wealthy, white male white thinga wealthy, is one in the for people It tech scene. programmer to admit that he sometimes smokes pot. is It another publicize an to undocumented worker for hisimmigration status, or woman a escaping reveal situation to violence a domestic for her home address. Advocating “openness” ignores the very circumstancesthat make may self- personal transparency as an ideal supports the business models of of models business the supports ideal an as transparency personal social software, which profi interview:Zuckerberg said in a 2010 this. But Facebook has a huge vested interest in encouraging has interest vested a huge people this. Facebook But publicizeto personal information, since they make by selling money anduser data “eyeballs” marketing to fi advertisers. Th learn to their theirbook friends, about parent money com- the more not does “openness” of interpretation make. Zuckerberg’s panies corporate cover openness— tight- and Çelikson selectively are well revealing intentioned, informa- as gay coming out the same as, is not a targeted say, to audience tion in Iraq. Th claiming that Facebook is changing its privacy settings to refl to settings privacy its changing is Facebook Zuckerberg echoes the belief that society open, is becoming more that claiming culture of Web 2.0 have evolved to promote a par promote 2.0culture to have evolved Web of

L FESTREAM NG 236 cally involvedcally former with Valleywag Grant isablogger, author, sex- and me: told Grant Gira privacy. Melissa to away maintain was information personal publicizing encountered strategically that belief the I also democracy. freedom and notcompanies, because it furthers openness and transparency because it drives profi encounters— encounters— do— people many than more online Grant reveals While radar. the under to of rest fl her the life private allowed about sexuality) writing (for her most fervent people online more example, than sharing boundaries around personal information sharing. She believed that But defi Grant hadclearly her partners. with arguments and stories about life, her nude sex pictures, including mation online, component. online infor- avisible She alot posted ofwith personal the period of my fi an edited self. an presenting whatconceal she to most she private; keep wants isstill more she that attempts to public. Itin revealing through isprecisely life her entire living than rather for her forthrightness, known artist Because people think they already know your dirty secrets. dirty your know already they Because people think to way life. haveaprivate about isamarvelous me, which I’m passionate everything must about know very they that or things or activism about sexuality becausethat I’m talking they don’t know; people even about and to talk think even never Iwould that vate things [But] but strategically. Iusethat alotthings are of there pri- about intimate alot of Because Italk have novery private life. I people think Ithink divide, of public/private In terms the she is contemplating a project that would document her sexual she iscontemplating document her aproject sexual would that she is playing a character, the feminist per per feminist the acharacter, she isplaying eldwork; the two had a tumultuous relationship hadatumultuous two eldwork; the Privacy throughDisclosure Privacy can’t conceive. even Th work activist who was romanti- who was work activist blogger Nick during Douglas media t to social ey think for for mance mance ned ned y 237 L FESTREAM NG

erent erent . . . name” is is my couldn’t understandcouldn’t live e way you your celebrity. Whilecelebrity. extensive social use of me- Publicity as Strategy a diff create you like, ey’re “Can’t erent languageserent they because wouldn’t have a career if I didn’t live my life online online life my live didn’t I if career a have wouldn’t were saying things to me like, “Th like, me to things saying were ciency with the technologies. And as a sex writer and activist, ts on social ts on was demonstrate media use, to vital so it her for Grant’s position also position Grant’s reveals the living,” extent which to “public account, to separate them?” I’m like “Th like I’m them?” separate to account, they It really bothered [the company] that there was any entity entity any was there that company] [the bothered really It online was it me, meaning where all divided. and me not of stuff with associated title my have to want didn’t they Like I did personally. Th life online is an obvious detriment and your I for career,” and they really got was like, was not,” pissed. It “No, it’s diff two that I I that the way I was.

e third viewpoint with do had to traditional that I encountered

as withicts Ariel employers, explained: Waldman and therefore publicity, is necessary publicity, and therefore a successful for the of member maintain to Grant freelance her needed she career, For tech scene. advising involved work a visible non- her persona. public of Much profi profi wasshe expected and tweet sex, blog and to about relationships, strategy Her intimacy. reveal to the very personal only was a not herself; at- to also to her it topics enabled keep some to her way for tract freelance interest an and to audience clients. was to She able builduse this career to interaction her audience further; in 2010, and a partnershe used Kickstarter, a “crowdfunding”that solic- site to than raise to more $17,000 creative projects, for donations its anprint anthology sex of writing. dia is necessary many technological careers, for this can con- create fl Th personal one’s maintain to revealing information the of or publicity, boost micro- to brand or

L FESTREAM NG 238 and limit self- limit and marker of authenticity, strategic self- from social media. While things her many audience, she with withheld emotional ties build disclosing personaltus. But details although Waldman is valued micro- or brand increasing used the intimacy, strengthening pieces as a of personal information audience deepen and an with ties helpstopics media build on social to technologyone Moreover, client. the in valued because issohighly authenticity community, of needs the more than was important media social with facility ing discussing both personal and professional single client. Th client. single a transcend would that astrong brand toited, build Waldman aimed fair game for Twitter. Rather she into came being contact with not anything and than with divided,” keeping her accounts highly of account any me her that under needed to name be“all maintained ed- She to cement expert. media her reputation necessary asocial as was To lifestreaming through gained publicity Waldman, the is not always in the self- the in is not always corporate employment,and since what for may bebest company the status, and plastic surgery. On the other, Julia Allison, who is other, Onthe surgery. Allison, plastic and Julia status, homelessness, HIV his activities, about sexual tweets Nick Starr professional self- strictly to who to those adhere a lives sex document their graphically who of numerous public- degrees are scene there diff approached is whom with and share to much both benefiinformation has online personal is no agreementon Since howthem. revealing to handle Th audiences. constitute networked audienceand that on communities of work publicity, impact on openness, the islittle there networks, problems created by shifting notions of private and public on social disclosure and reservation. facebetween complex the negotiations lifestreamers that reveals While many people have looked at the at these issues create problems is widely acknowledged, but create problems there issues at these acknowledged, iswidely Looking at information disclosure as the desire for desire the as at disclosure information Looking disclosure. is reveals the intrinsic confl intrinsic the isreveals brander’s self- self- brander’s presentation. On one end of the spectrum, presentation. Onone end of spectrum, the ts and drawbacks, choosing how choosing drawbacks, and ts interest. To show- Waldman, presenters tactically manage manage tactically presenters ict between self- ict between erently. Within the ness, from people people from ness, celebrity sta-celebrity branding branding publicity

239 L FESTREAM NG ese choices choices ese y with it can’t cuss,can’t purely liter- or ect the image public that at’s the openness, it’s because of irony Managing the Lifestream relationships, but carefully but relationships, personal of pieces other out dole ected by the software that people use, their motivations, and and motivations, their use, people that software the by ected e only sort of drawback is that I Th that it’s always fi ltered. It’s kind of like open source; any- source; open like of kind It’s ltered. fi not so open, right? always It’s a manufactured it’s openness inthat that way, a there’s but it with body cantake around the code and mess And check you it. in and you doing of way structured very and signcheck you go And your have to out you it. name to through certain thekernel. on work levels to meritocratic like can not people take just theIt’s code and fl just ally let my hair down in a certain way anymore privately, . . . ally. hair. my let down. in a certain way anymore privately, everythingbecause refl has I do to Th keep up. to I need ulti- it’s because ironic It’s way. same the is living open and ways, of less expe- open, in personally,mately my a lot that’s rience.

people employ many creative strategies to manage online presence presence online manage to strategies lifestreamingBecause and has personal emotional drawbacks, creative many employ private people be should information what and impressions. Deciding An enormous amount self.” of work goes into edited maintain- draw- the “the ing explains Hunt Tara labor. is public be should which and living”: backs “open of considered very public, does not lifestream meetings with potential potential with meetings lifestream not does very public, considered business deal- her clientscompromise famous friends to or so as not ings. Stillspeak to their publicly others choose not children about theiror information appear their to to audiences. authentic Th reveal who even people others. But a to obligations webs of complex great deal personal of online information this do thoughtfully. are aff are Hunt is open about many aspects life; about is open her tweeted of Hunt she that her bill texting phone his friends in the had run United son a $1,051 up

L FESTREAM NG 240 public online was a losing battle: alosing was online public that of their friends. and people Bautista must monitor information disclosure own their both recognized that her desire to be less ajob in interview. blog boyfriend her and personal to referred arecruiter presence after her down” online of “locking dating— dating— disclosure— defi has Hunt for onStates, asked problem. and how the advice to manage But through social media site may appear in each other’s streams through other’s site through each in media may appear streams social through have aFacebook account. Two connected not who users are directly aphoto in Someone betagged on can Facebook do not they if even be photographed byanother patron. still can at in abar check who not Aperson chooses to bereferenced atweet. account in can Someone without aTwitter lifestream. the inadvertently, through informationPeople about or deliberately others, reveal frequently par par one after information disclosure their back peoplethat often scaled of social media use, from intense to mild. Glenda phases People through scene or often cycled the drama. in anxiety Bautista told me to produce image. working her edit constantly and desired her accordingly. Hunt actions is aresult, altering and others As self- ment requires tic name, so that it wouldn’t to redo to my back me, last Itried track to not haveanything be attributed to me. Th I remember once, just to my out keep name of or Google, just graph, social among anetworked exists lifestream Because the “Take that down, put“Take up that ..” down, that it’s Imean, exhausting. be like, to too too much literally much policing, energy takes it And some do not people boundaries. havethe literally mouths, it’s don’t they just that whereis my know line . . . because some peoplewell, go . . . It’s not have big they that Others decrease their involvement in social media to reduce media involvement their social decrease in Others u lar incident. In her case, Bautista began the diffi the incident. Bautista Inher began lar case, and strictly manages her self- manages strictly and she generally avoids talking about relationships or avoids talking she generally ned asetof for acceptable information boundaries monitoring, seeing herself through the gaze of monitoring, gaze the through seeing herself presentation. Th at at didn’t cult pro is manage- cess cess 241 L FESTREAM NG we’re at the point the point at we’re erent erent informational sansattering tags, Even childhood photos. icts. For example, “John” may not want example, not may “John” For icts. face communication. People vary their self- self- their vary People communication. face hand, “right of problem previously e mentioned e resulting lifestream inculcate to is an a attempt to- to- is should not surprise anyone familiar with the intri- ect. Th lar oneself of that appeals version others in to the networked u tic tic

par audience. Th face- of cacies when we don’t have control over what people publish about us.” us.” publish about people what over have control we don’t when Dignan want his presumablydoes who not online is a professional sulliedreputation by unfl ourselves we present context based and on audience; presentations Contrary theories transparency the of utopian to and openness pro- 2.0 discourse, in and Web the moral panicsmoted around lack of con- and reveal to privacy online, lifestreaming an unvarnished is not what digital stream of choose online is a carefully it actions. Instead someone’s edited, purposeful Lifestreamers self. of construction ceal: their actions, publicizing own they and monitor certain other’s aspects their of lives while keepingparts other themselves, and to they even may exaggerate falsify or a produce to information desired eff left hand,” where people at an event have diff have event an at people where hand,” left canonline be misinterpreted. re- asked A friend to photos me once a picturemove him of hugging a female friend Flickr my from jealous girlfriendstream, want his did notoriously not he because to said, can Asmisinterpret Bautista it. monitoring Glenda be “ex- also be- may be impossible, It labor. emotional of a form hausting,” are and constantly sites being new developed. tools cause mutual friends. Th norms, can create confl “Chris.” rival Mike’s with dinner having is he that know to “Mike” MikeBut learn may this anyway if Chris tweets his about blogs or dinner can with John ask Chris keep John. the to dinner secret, but private this how ultimately cannot information will he control be. transparent.Andrew too almost “It’s I like Mager elaborated: you’re was sitting last Larry with ZDNet night, of the editor Dignan, and is like be- is like, andhe he writer, scared Facebook, a top ‘I’m of allcause middle my friends school are and going scanning photos,’ want is likeand all he Almost ‘I that.’ don’t now

L FESTREAM NG 242 variable social contexts are “collapsed” into one. “collapsed” contexts are social variable widely and balance relationship equal has lapse,” where every tions, however, in that they frequently demonstrate “context col- Social media technologies are distinct from face- diff wholly self- wholly or conceal. Unfortunately, self- choices about how much to reveal careful make public life pushing Evenself. or who those risqué boundary- pride on themselves their Th lifestream. their manage and cause people aresult to restrict, as hold back, intended. Th participants the moreheld than up to scene often reveals the that mirror of it a digital becomes of part sum its the more parts, than a aggregate, the in forming, and corded things ditional layer ad- createsan Lifestreaming lifestreams. of everyone where virtually social information: acommunity in of lifestreaming realities the and public living by digitizing fl are there previously unre- audience. of same But the employees bepart could friends and tial self- vary to tricky very is it where Twitter, disclosure as an act of publicizing the self to a networked audience. to anetworked self the of act publicizing an as disclosure information understand wecan behaviors, these sphere to explain public the in about theories privacy expecting than Rather well. as community, perhaps the professionally and its goin one how can far outsider lim- one and an aLuddite, as and marks Nonparticipation scene. technology the in media social in to participate pressures Th intimacy, status. friendship, and including participating ininformation- social of for concern alack as privacy. Th alike dia me- the and isinterpreted byresearchers information online sonal per- but model, putting often, business of their part as information changed. rarely check- Foursquare erently in a job interview than we do in a bar with our friends. friends. our with abar wedoin than ajob interview in erently Social media applications encourage people to provide personal people to personal provide applications encourage media Social agrant contradictions between the ideals of transparent, of transparent, ideals the between contradictions agrant e arguments, contradictions, and dramas that play that out dramas and contradictions, earguments, dependent. Th dependent. e lifestream becomes a portrayal of a formal, edited of aformal, becomes aportrayal elifestream ins provided by others can bemonitored, providedins can byothers but e tagged photos, e tagged @reply references, and presentation in the lifestream is not sharing has many benefi many has sharing presentation, both poten- is ignores the fact that that fact the isignores ere are strong social strong social ereare 70 whole that reveals whole reveals that On Facebook or to- face interac- ts, 243 L FESTREAM NG ts lar type of u tic tic many of e inclusion ts. Th socialt models of media on depend ine, and information sharing where nitions of privacy, and privacy, editing of nitions their ective benefi ndings are supported empirical by other ese fi ese People employ strategies like withholding cer- 71 t corporations more than more t corporations individuals. contributed information. Perhaps not surprisingly not then, information. Perhaps the contributed I found no correlation between how much someone cares between correlation no someone about much I found how

e value visibility of share andto access with people motivates

members of thein the scene of lifestreammembers these both enables benefi andand social emotional creates drawbacks. privacy and the information amount in- they of online. put For stance, Melissa Gira reveals Grant sex a great deal her life, about share. to Frequent chooses not is very she what but of protective tweeters are if upset a friend’s tweet publicizessomething they did disclosed. want Th not studies showing that disclosure information a lack of imply does not privacy. concern for tain pieces of information, monitoring their friends’ use of social social of use friends’ their monitoring information, of pieces tain media, adopting varying defi models of openness idealized of models 2.0 both the ignore negative by Web transparency of consequences a par and promote own lifestreammaintain to in order privacy a level of they are com- and the new these of controls with.fortable the Due imprecision to levels of inference possible with aggregated social information, how- drama avoid to is often impossible in it a communityever, where social life exists both on and offl Further, 2.0 culture whileis a normative behavior. the Web may frame this sharing within a discourse and freedom democracy, of we must remember that the profi user- Th resulting aff in other, each transparency that privileges the kinds information sharing of that benefi

L FESTREAM NG 244 310 NOTES TO PAGESNOTES 193–209

Chapter Five. Lifestreaming

1. Timoner, We Live in Public. 2. Aaron Smith, Cell Internet Use 2012. 3. Ito and Okabe, “Intimate Connections”; boyd, “Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites.” 4. Marwick and boyd, “To See and Be Seen.” 5. Marwick, “Th e Public Domain.” 6. Gelernter, “Th e Cyber-Road Not Taken.” 7.Freeman, “Lifestreams Project Home Page”; Freeman, “Th e Life- streams Software Architecture.” 311 8. Madden et al., “Digital Footprints.” 9. Brophy- Warren, “Th e New Examined Life”; Bielski, “My So-Called Life.” 10. Roberts, “Self- Experimentation as a Source of New Ideas.” 11. Th ese pro cesses are becoming automatized through services like Timehop and MemoMail, which send a daily email including Foursquare check-ins, Facebook messages, tweets, and Flickr pictures from that day years ago. 12. Rubin, Happiness Project. 13. Mullen, “Lifestreaming as a Life Design Methodology.” 14. It is a fallacy to assume that printed diaries were always personal and intended to be private. Van Dijck, in her “Composing the Self,” argues

that the diary is always written for an audience, whether or not that audi- 209–219NOTES PAGES TO ence ever reads the diary. She disregards the categorization of diaries into “public” and “private”: all diaries are written to an addressee. Also see Lee Humphreys’s piece “Historicizing Microblogging,” which compares micro- blogging to historical diaries. 15. Bowker and Star, Sorting Th ings Out. 16. Marwick and boyd, “I Tweet Honestly, I Tweet Passionately.” 17. boyd, “Social Network Sites as Networked Publics.” 18. As with the rest of this book, many of these technologies are now obsolete because my fi eldwork took place from 2007 to 2010. 19. See busterbenson.com and Julia Allison’s lifecast on Julia.nonsoci- ety.com for examples. 20. Th ompson, “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy.” 21. Fono and Raynes- Goldie, “Hyperfriendship and Beyond”; Mar- wick and boyd, “It’s Just Drama.” 22. Marwick and boyd, “It’s Just Drama.” 23. Mullen, “Lifestreaming as a Life Design Methodology,” 54. 24. Th ompson, “Brave New World of Digital Intimacy.” 25. Chen, “Tweet Th is.” 26. Crawford, “Th ese Foolish Th ings,” 252. 27. Ibid., 259. 28. Ibid., 262. 29. V. Miller, “New Media, Networking and Phatic Culture,” 394. 30. Habuchi, “Accelerating Refl exivity.” 31. Buff ardi and Campbell, “Narcissism and Social Networking Web Sites”; LaPorta, “Twitter and YouTube.” Much of this linkage is often sen- sationalized (see, for example, Twenge and Campbell, Narcissism Epidemic). 312 Buff ardi and Campbell do not claim that social network site use promotes narcissism, but they do point out that the personality traits exhibited by narcissists are rewarded by social network sites, so narcissists may be over-

NOTES TO PAGESNOTES 219–230 represented there. 32. Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”; Richtel, “Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price”; Richtel, “Silicon Valley Worries About Addic- tion to Devices.” 33. Marwick, “Th e Public Domain.” 34. Nippert-Eng, Islands of Privacy, 8. 35. Locke, Eavesdropping. 36. Gibbs, Ellison, and Heino, “Self-Presentation in Online Personals.” 37. Bechar-Israeli, “From to ”; Donath, “Identity and Deception in the Virtual Community”; Reid, “Hierarchy and Power.” 38. Nissenbaum, Privacy in Context, 42. 39. Rock Band is a pop u lar video game. 40. Tara Brown, “Has Anyone Seen My iPhone?” 41. Starr, “And Now You Know.” 42. Th e term “FOMO” did not exist during fi eldwork, but it precisely describes the “feeling” expressed by interview participants. See Wortham, “How Social Media Can Induce Feelings of ‘Missing Out.’ ” 43. Humphreys, “Mobile Social Networks and Social Practice”; Hum- phreys, “Mobile Social Networks and Urban Public Space.” 44. Williams and Dourish, “Imagining the City,” 40. 45. Dennis Crowley, who founded and created both Dodgeball and Foursquare, has openly stated that the ser vices were designed for people like his friends, young New York City professionals. 46. Carr, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”; Carr, Th e Shallows; Pinker, “Mind over Mass Media”; Richtel, “Hooked on Gadgets.” 47. Trepte and Reinecke, Privacy Online; Barnes, “A Privacy Paradox”; Abril, “A (My) Space of One’s Own.” 48. Trepte and Reinecke, Privacy Online. 49. Tufekci, “Can You See Me Now?” 50. Dean, Publicity’s Secret, 2. 51. boyd, “Making Sense of Privacy and Publicity.” 52. Conley et al., “Sustaining Both Privacy and Open Justice in the Transition from Local to Online Access to Court Records.” 53. Davis, “Electronic Access to Information and the Privacy Paradox”; Bepko, “Public Availability or Practical Obscurity.” 54. Nissenbaum, Privacy in Context. 313 55. I am indebted to conversations with Helen Nissenbaum, and her “Online Court Rec ords, Privacy, and Contextual Integrity” project with Amanda Conley, for this example and the vocabulary used. 56. Ewen, PR! A Social History of Spin, 27. 57. Sternberg, “Phantasmagoric Labor,” 420. 58. WikiLeaks contributors, “WikiLeaks.” 59. Benkler, Wealth of Networks, 292– 293. 60. Lessig, Code, 153. 61. Nissenbaum, “Defi ning Transparency.” 62. During my fi eldwork for this book, the debate over California’s Proposition 8 was heated, and increased tolerance for gay, lesbian, trans- gender and bisexual people, particularly marriage equality, was frequently

cited as evidence of a move toward a more equal society. Th is being 230–243NOTES PAGES TO San Francisco, other locally prominent minorities such as polyamorous people, the leather/BDSM community, and drug users were also often discussed. 63. Th e libertarian po liti cal tradition of Silicon Valley celebrates capi- talism and government non- interference and idealizes its own culture as a model for the rest of the world. For example, during the economic collapse of 2008, many Silicon Valley denizens bragged that the technology/computer companies of Silicon Valley did not need an economic bailout like the bank- ing or auto industries. Th ere was a sense of pride in the self-suffi ciency of the technology industry and a belief that they do not take any kinds of gov- ernment support. 64. Banaji and Prentice, “Th e Self in Social Contexts.” 65. Schneier, “My Reaction to Eric Schmidt.” 66. See Elinor Mills’s series for CNET about this incident. She writes, “We Googled some personal information about Schmidt and wrote about what we found. He didn’t like it, and News .com was on the receiving end of a very stern corporate silent treatment from Google for nearly two months.” Mills, “My Stunted Interview with Google’s Eric Schmidt”; Mills, “Google Balances Privacy, Reach.” 67. Solove, “ ‘I’ve Got Nothing to Hide’ and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy”; Regan, Legislating Privacy; Nissenbaum, Privacy in Context. 68. Solove, “ ‘I’ve Got Nothing to Hide’ and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy,” 765. 69. Kirkpatrick, “Facebook’s Zuckerberg Says the Age of Privacy Is Over.” 70. Marwick and boyd, “I Tweet Honestly, I Tweet Passionately”; Mar- wick and Ellison, “Th ere Isn’t Wifi in Heaven!”