technoculture203-09

I observed last week that one of my "strong ties" on my Facebook social networking site had changed their profile picture. Nothing extra ordinary in that granted, in fact they have changed their picture numerous times before. What did interest me though was the choice of picture that had been chosen.

My "stong tie" had recently from a new job placement moved to Sydney. While living in New Zealand it would be fair to say there offline identity reflected somewhat there online identity. By this i mean the photo's that could be found within their online profile, portrayed the type of person they were in outside reality eg: Pictures in crazy clothes, 3d glasses, weird faces, connected mainly to the confines of clubbing and party environments etc. As a person of 30 yrs they were very comfortable in the representation of who they were regarding social, cultral and family identities within New Zealand.

I consider from the new up market/high fashion profile picture on their Facebook page the need for a new online identity to reflect better there new social and work contexts. Facebook through the change of photo had facilitated a cosmetic change, that although not major, one photo, it is enough to suggest an acknowledgement and awareness existed of their new corporate position, needing also to mirror how they are now represented online.

With new social environments, and privacy issues to contemplate in Sydney, including the potential of employers to access employees Face Book pages, it is a sensible decision by my friend and one that reflects an acknowledgement in the difficulty and complex nature of securing the online privacy of personal information.