This article really brings things together when it comes to individual privacy (or lack there of) on social networks.  Many young adults in their mid-20’s are now completely used to disclosing a lot of personal information openly on the net because well… that’s the culture that has developed.  Open social networks is extremely popular and it only seems to be getting more popular are the days go by.  So while older adults may never understand this, many of the youth don’t even give this a second shot.  The one thing I am afraid of is how people will take this kind of private data on people and use it to their advantage…

Reared on reality TV, paparazzi, cellphone cameras and the insatiable maw of the World Wide Web, it’s no wonder teens and adults in their 20s think a little differently when it comes to privacy.

“I am constantly broadcasting who I am,” says Indigo Rael, 22, of Lake Dallas, Texas. “The Internet is just a way for me to reach more people with who I am. It’s the age of information; I’m used to giving and receiving tons.”

To the Internet generation, reaching out and touching a few hundred of their closest friends - especially through social-networking sites MySpace and Facebook - is as natural as brushing their teeth.

“They’re dealing with privacy differently than any of us over 35 ever have,” says Steve Jones, communications professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago.[more]

Tags: Privacy