Are Social Networks the New Paparazzi?

by Rheeno

Unwanted tags on Facebook and revealing Twitpics when drunk, have we become our very own versions of the paparazzi? New York private members club, Protocols aims to keep parties fearlessly free of virtual gossip by banning blogging, tweeting & photography.

Could the news News that Brad Pitt wants to build his own airstrip at his French Chateau to avoid being snapped at airports, and billionaire Abramovich is adding an 'anti-paparazzi shield' to his new billionaire dollar yacht to avoid the glare of cameras - could living one's life in private suddenly be chic again?

Michael Malice, author and blogger who is the organizer behind NY's new media salon Protocols - has said the idea behind keeping social networks out of his evenings is to allow people to talk fearlessly. And herein perhaps lies the problem of web fatigue.

Our continuous stream of status updates, tweets and flawless Facebook profile pics envisage a world of flawless beauties filled with ultra-exciting lives and packed social calendars. The reality for many of us however is we turn to social networking when we're alone (hence the thirties attraction to Twitter), with that solo glass of chardonnay convincing ourselves, we're not drinking alone because we're tweeting our friends.

Documenting situations leave us circling encounters rather than diving head first into them, and the selective uploading of personal photos leads to an editing process where one's close friends and relationships are scrutinised for online credibility.

Even music is not spared. Last FM, the new arbiter of online music sharing, has its been said changed the face of music charts. Users wanting to put their best musical face forward have dropped personal favourites (those dodgy albums we like to listen to alone) in favour of the latest cool download.

The upshot? Thousands of users, with similar 'cool' musical libraries and leading us to question when is accessibility to each others information a good thing, and at what point does it start to morph a generation of clones?

Kerry Olsen
Source: Vanity Fair, NY Times, People Magazine
Photo Credit: PlayLust