The naked generation

While at dinner a few months ago with some of my old undergrad school newspaper buddies and our faculty adviser, the conversation turned to the topic of online social networking and privacy. My old editor in chief (now a chief blogger for a big time thinktank) mentioned the notion of "the naked generation" -- these millennials still in college now, who just don't think twice about baring their whole lives (and other parts) online, whether through YouTube, blogging, MySpace, you name it. They willingly share their intimate thoughts, fears, and joys not just with their friends but with the world. At a click of a button.

And it all makes me wonder. Is this a good thing? On one hand, it brings up policy issues like privacy -- does this trend indicate a new disregard for privacy rights? If a young adult is already willing to allow the world into her head, will she think twice about allowing the government into her phone conversations and emails? And there's the professionalism issue -- what happens when your potential boss Googles you and discovers your video blog that doesn't exactly shine the best light on you? I try to ensure that no incriminating evidence about me goes online, but that notion doesn't seem to mean much to other people. Julia and Jakob, for example, decided to chronicle their budding relationship through online blogs and videos. Although the media blogging world was mildly obsessed with the site, the short-lived lovebirds broke up and the posts have been removed from the official website (here, if you're interested). Sounds like Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey of blogging to me.

But, maybe having another outlet to express yourself and explore the world is a good thing. Maybe it helps us open up more, be more vulnerable, have a healthier emotional life. There are still a few Jakob and Julia videos on YouTube and it does reveal the fun, innocent, idiosyncrasies of two people who are trying to make a relationship work. Maybe their experiment, while sad for them, leaves the rest of us with something better.


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