The word ‘privacy’ comes from the Latin ‘privatus’ meaning ‘isolated’ or ‘not in public life’.  Such a concept is at odds with many internet users, who go online specifically searching for social interaction.  Some see privacy as a necessary sacrifice to have an online identity.  One blogger writes, “Privacy and security are things you give up when you show the world what makes you extraordinary.”

Young people, still forming and defining their identities, find it particularly important to present themselves to the outside world.  Web profile sites, such as LunarStorm in Sweden and CU2 in the Netherlands, host profiles for around three quarters of all young people in their countries.  Only a minority commit the perceived social suicide of not joining in.

Popularity is both measurable and visible.  “Kyle has 181 friends”, reads the text on a MySpaces profile, and many are accompanied with photos. A quick click on a profile on Danish site Arto brings up statistics for each user – including such data such as virtual hugs and kisses sent and received, and a bar chart for further visual effect.  Perhaps then, it is unsurprising that some choose to reveal more about themselves, or even use provocative photos, to seek attention and boost their ratings.

Many adults are belatedly realising that privacy is not just about preventing grooming by paedophiles. Other issues such as online bullying are of far greater daily concern to many young internet users.  Bullying victims know the value of privacy more than most, because they are subjected to the humiliation of having information about them, whether real or false, made available to a potentially global audience.

The key to the compromise is that privacy does not have to mean anonymity.  Young people can still express their personalities and their opinions and interact with others without ever revealing a surname, an address, or a phone number.  Details that would not be readily given out in real life should also remain private when online.