There’s sporadic opposing sentiment around, however, sooner or later those individuals will acquiesce. In due course, every person in every place will have their personal podcast. The latest to submit, albeit with some hesitation, is Herself. She along with another lady are at the novice phase of organising a series to elaborate on a variety of feminine topics. I am certain it will be captivating and amusing, even though Herself is comprehensibly a bit uneasy about articulating into a mic. She is also concerned about over-disclosure. She perceives herself as being prone to such behaviour, whereas I view her as being frank, which is certainly not detrimental.
The subject of how much information is excessive often relies heavily on personal viewpoints and the societal tolerance for such disclosure seemingly increases nonstop. Herself is cautious about unintentionally revealing someone else’s confidential information or anything that may cause discomfort or embarrassment to the family. She is intent on doing no harm. Although the probability of that happening is small, it still makes sense to be alert.
With the gamut of media platforms at our disposal currently, the demand of the culture is for us to share – views, passions, heartaches, ailments, be they cardiovascular or psychological. Many find this comforting. It enhances the feeling of belonging to a community with individuals they’ve never encountered in tangible existence, whilst maintaining originality. Revealing one’s vulnerabilities apparently makes one appear more “real” to others. Authenticity is a significantly revered trait.
The current state of affairs suggests that all manner of expression seem to take their influence from this model. Consider Taylor Swift, the reigning pop music queen globally. Her touring efforts generate billions and an endorsement from her could sway the next US presidential race. Yet, the recent release of her latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ saw the dialogue concentrated not solely on the music, but on elements such as alleged references to past relationships, celebrity disputes, and her rapport with her fans. Unlike many other musicians, when Swift uses first person in her lyrics, it carries literal meaning: it’s about her. It’s a combination of a record album and a social media post, fostering a relationship with her fans that extends beyond just the music—it’s about her life narrative, a dramatic saga that could, possibly, be entirely contrived.
This approach can be risky, whether you are as famous as Swift or you’re just someone with a dozen followers on Instagram. Various researches have pointed out a connection between frequent sharing and an obsessive need to share more. The narrative starts by revealing your anxiety to your followers, who then empathize and validate you. But then you’re perpetually seeking that affirmation, amplifying your anxiety.
A certain degree of privacy is necessary for everyone so they can shape their identity autonomously rather than allowing others to it for them.
Notably, this phenomenon isn’t totally new. In the pre-digital era, several newspapers, domestically and internationally, would have a renowned columnist assigned to freely voice their thoughts. Before “clickbait” became a term, there was an implicit stress on them to draw in an audience and consistently put out fresh and explosive opinions. In some instances, I conjecture, the stress was so high that they began to fabricate views that didn’t reflect their true beliefs, thereby leading them to logically justify these positions. Some even went awry due to this.
Indeed, there’s a hint of unexpected irony: consider me penning my usual newspaper column, where I often discuss myself and my family members. However subjective it might be, I believe I exercise necessary discretion. There’s certainly a clear boundary, beyond which my personal life is exactly that – personal, and not meant for public inspection. There are numerous topics I’d steer clear of in my writing, particularly those that could paint me in a negative light. After all, everyone should have a quota of privacy, to quietly shape our identities without the influence of others’ perceptions.