The electronic panopticon....privacy and our lives online, part two

In my last post, I started sounding forth on the messy, complicated, work in progress issue of privacy and our lives online.  I found that there's a whole lotta, quite valid, reasons as to why we want privacy online and that it seems, we're still figuring out what are the boundaries.  For a big finish, I drew on the work of Foucault and the 'panopticon' effect of the constant surveillance that social media suggests and how that can affect us.  In this final post on privacy, I want to look at our right to privacy, how might we begin to define privacy for social media and what the implications can be for PR and public communications practice.

The electronic panopticon...privacy and our lives online, part one

Bugger off!  That's pretty much my first impulse after having delved into the world of social media, data collection and privacy.  That and a driving desire to to close down my social media accounts, shut-off the computer, turn out the lights, lock the door and vow Never To Go Online Again.  I've officially given myself the the creeps.  Smidge over-reactive perhaps?

So what is the deal with privacy and our lives online?  Do we electronically reveal all, glance coyly above our delicate fans or don the modesty jacket over that strappy sundress, otherwise Great Aunt Harriett will never let up throughout Sunday lunch on Standards Today.