Why do individuals post potentially embarrassing details on the internet?

That funny photo you came across on Facebook seemed amusing — until you realized it was a picture of your Aunt Maggie. As you browse the web, you might encounter a blog or social network and wonder why people reveal embarrassing details online. To understand this, we must first look at how many individuals are involved in online communities.

By 2009, millions of individuals maintained profiles on social networking platforms, including personal blogs. Over 50 million blogs were active, with contributors posting more than 1.5 million comments every day [source: Sifry]. In Canada, the average person had profiles on seven or more online platforms like MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn [source: Shaw].

We've made significant progress since the 1990s, when chat rooms and instant messengers allowed us to craft digital identities behind the anonymity of screen names. Nowadays, many people not only use their real names and actual photos online, but also reveal intimate details of their lives that some might consider oversharing or TMI. Stories of binge drinking or casual flings could easily haunt anyone who decides to publicly share their experiences. Yet, some still choose to lay it all bare in the name of self-expression.

Psychologists and sociologists have differing opinions on why our society is so uninhibited. Some believe that we feel more confident than ever before, while others attribute it to loneliness and the decline of traditional communities, driving us to expose our personal lives as if we're confessing. What most experts agree on, however, is that the primary reason people share potentially embarrassing information online is for one thing — attention.

In the next section, we'll explore the concept of oversharing and look into why even future doctors are willing to risk their careers by posting questionable content online for the whole world to see.

Overshare Beware

Oversharing on the internet has become increasingly common. Webster's New World Dictionary defines the term 'overshare' as "to disclose an excessive amount of personal information, such as in a blog or public interview, which may evoke reactions ranging from discomfort to approval." According to cyberpsychologist John Suler, this behavior evolved from the early days of online chat rooms and has carried over into real life. Today, people often reveal personal and sensitive details in face-to-face interactions with colleagues and new acquaintances, replicating the same behavior in online social networking.

In 2008, the University of Florida published findings from a study on the online activities of its medical students. The research revealed that many students shared information on Facebook that most doctors would never reveal to their patients [source: Lockette]. These included behaviors like dressing inappropriately, endorsing excessive drinking, and joining groups with titles like, "Why I Hate Medical School." As a result, medical schools increased efforts to educate students on what is acceptable to share online and what is not.

Whether for better or worse, oversharing on the internet has become a defining trait of the times. Experts argue that members of Generation Y, born between 1982 and the mid-1990s, are particularly prone to loneliness due to being raised in broken families, unlike previous generations. These young adults tend to seek emotional support from their peers rather than their nuclear families, and they often form friendships with their co-workers [source: Dahl]. Considering that Generation Y grew up communicating with family members and classmates via email and text, it's no surprise that their offline lives often spill over into their online activities.

Expressing yourself and letting off steam online can be healthy, but only to a certain extent. Some sociologists believe that oversharing can actually serve as a shortcut to building close friendships. By showing vulnerability, they argue, individuals can break the ice in social situations and quickly bond with others. However, saying too much or sharing the wrong information online can jeopardize your future opportunities in college, work, or business. While some employers and college admissions officers may not care or have time to check, others make decisions based on the online presence of potential applicants.