The popular social networking site, Facebook, boasts over 400 million active members. 60 million of these members spend more than 55 minutes per day at the site; updating their status, joining groups and clicking the “like” button left and right.  No matter what users are doing on the site, their present and that’s for sure. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter or any other social site, some people are  asking the question –What does sharing so much with so many do to our private lives?

No matter the user or their argument, social networking sites allow others a look inside members lives; some share more information than others but with over 3 billion photos uploaded to the site monthly somebody is sharing something! The argument has been made both in favor of these sites with one side arguing that it’s a convenient way to network and keep up with friends and the other side claiming that it’s a gossip-fest for the nosy and bored. No matter what side you take, you must admit that their is validity to each point.

The argument in defense of these sites makes semi-perfect sense. Everybody’s busy. Period. It’s the American way and we’ve proven that not much will slow us down. Our lifestyles make social networking sites a fabulous way to keep in touch with people that we may not otherwise have time to catch up with. Old high school friends and co-workers, cousins who live out of state and maybe even your boss. Which brings us to the other side of the argument which isn’t bad either.

Social networking sites were designed with one thing in mind — networking. It’s probably a sure thing that when the masterminds of Facebook brainstormed the idea, they had no idea that, at some point, gang members would be accused of using the site for threats directed at other gang members. Throw in the Vague Status updaters, (i.e. “don’t know if i can take much more” or the ever popular “what’s wrong with me?”) with the Mafia/Farmville junkies while you click through your ex’s wedding pictures and you’ve got the perfect cocktail that will have you staring at your computer clock in horror wondering what happened to the last three hours of your life.

No matter whose side your on, I think that we’d all agree that over-sharing is never good for anyone. Think back with fondness to the days when the only people who knew what happened over spring break were there to witness it with there own eyes, secrets between friends were shared in person and you kept embarrassing pictures in photo albums in your closet. After all, you never really know whose watching. It just might be your boss.