Boundaries in the Age of Oversharing

Boundaries in the Age of Oversharing

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

Letters to the Prompt

The prompt asks “What’s something most people don’t know about you?” makes me reflect on the illusion of privacy in today’s world. It’s hard to imagine life without social media, where relationships often take on a fluent yet superficial nature.

As social creatures, we humans are naturally curious, and we now live in an increasingly public world. Although I maintain a presence on social media, I consider myself a private person who carefully distinguishes between what I share publicly and what remains private. I make a clear distinction between friends and acquaintances, and I uphold boundaries accordingly.

I find it astonishing to witness the oversharing that happens on social media. People share intimate details of their lives, even the most personal moments—like the loss of a loved one—within hours of the event. The likes and reactions they receive seem to tap into a dopamine response, pushing them to repeat these interactions. Yet, this behavior leaves me feeling like a voyeur, as if I’m intruding on moments that, in another time, would have been reserved for only the closest people in one’s life.

There’s no denying that social media has the potential to connect people globally, and it can create opportunities to form relationships across boundaries. For those who seek attention, it offers a platform. But it is also linked to mental health challenges, and much of what occurs on these platforms can feel like ships passing in the night—fleeting, without the depth or natural rewards of more meaningful connections. The speed at which social media has transformed our interactions is breathtaking, yet it also raises concerns. Online interactions are fundamentally different from those in person, offering more distractions and reinforcing a kind of modern voyeurism. I choose to limit my exposure to algorithms and maintain clear boundaries. In this way, I safeguard what is private, so I can remain the private person I wish to be.

WJJH-18.9.2024

📌Blog Excerpt

Musings: on privacy and the superficial nature of social media, where the boundaries between public and private life often blur. While it offers global connectivity, it fosters oversharing and can lead to mental health issues. Emphasizing maintaining personal boundaries to preserve our privacy is essential amid societal pressures.