Sometimes those stories are personal, sometimes they’re informative, other times they’re just stupid.
Let’s take a look at why we feel compelled to do it.
For tens of thousands of Americans, it was the scrapbook.
In their own way, we treat our social web link accounts in the same way.
We cut, copy, and share articles we care about.
We add our own commentary to these clippings, and invite our friends to do the same.
In essence, scrapbooking “turned us into documentarians,” [Susan] Tucker adds.
“People always had this impulse to remember, and to guard what they knew… A Facebook wall is probably a tailored representation of what interests you.
Sites like Facebook are just as often the modern equivalent of the fridge door as they are a scrapbook.
They’re where you discuss everything ranging from political opinions to feelings.
The results clearly identified that active participation is necessary to decrease feelings of social rejection.
The oversharing doesn’t seem to elicit the warm, comforting Internet embrace that posters seek.
Seidman’s study also measured participants' motivations behind their posts, and found that they were mostly self-oriented.
Posters sought attention and a feeling of inclusion, but were seemingly less interested in expressing caring for others.
They treated Facebook like a drive-thru window, seeking a quick and easy dollar-menu pick-me-up.
Of course, it’s not all bad news.
That sense of belonging comes from all sorts of places online.
For example, the people you follow on Twitter likely share similar interests to you.
Sites like Tumblr or Pinterest showcase similar ideas based on what you like.
The same goes for all the other sites out there thathelp facilitate real world friendships as well.
It’s not unreasonable to assume that sharing information online works the same way.
But that’s only half the story.
The Harvard study helps clarify why we are so eager to be on the sharing side as well.
“This would certainly explain the barroom bore, wouldn’t it?”
“Ordinarily, in a social context, we get feedback from other people,” Boyd told me.
“They might roll their eyes to indicate they don’t want to hear so much about us.
But online, you don’t have that.
This doesn’t mean that sharing something on Facebook or any other social web link will make you happy.
It’s like the small bit of joy when you bite into your favorite snack.
It’s not life changing, but it makes that singular moment a little better.
For the Internet constantly asks us “Who are You?”
“What do you have to share?”
Coupled with new self-revealing proclivities, this incites more open self-extension than in a pre-digital world.
Of course, everyone is different.
Some of us might only use social networks as a messaging service between friends and family.
Some may use them purely for competitive terms to keep track of who lost weight or who is successful.
While others might only keep accounts around for logistical purposes like authorizing apps and services.
Meanwhile, plenty of people don’t bother with social networks at all.
When we knowwhywe share, we can use that to our advantage.
Or perhaps more importantly, we can maintain social media accounts without losing our well-being in the process.
