An end to our private sphere?
Dear Editor:
On October 16, the Toronto Star published an article about a young Ottawa couple, Nancy Salgueiro and Mike Carreira, who broadcasted the delivery of their third child live over the Internet. More than 13,000 people tuned in as the baby arrived shortly after 3 a.m. Although the live-stream did not show graphic images, it did, however, show Salgueiro "crouching in a pool of water, and then the newborn in her arms," according to the Toronto Star article by writer Zoe McKnight.
In addition, that article also stated that the video showed "footage which included a detailed lesson on placenta," otherwise known as "the baby's little house."
The purpose of this live-streamed video was not to expose their personal lives, but rather to show that childbirth should be seen as empowering, rather than frightening.
Although this video was intended for educational use, one cannot help but recognize the extreme exposure of our private lives at a new and unmasked level. Through innovative technologies through this past decade, we have begun to unravel our private lives for the world to see. Through Facebook and other social media sites, we have divulged and exposed our secrets and flaws — and most of all, the entirety of our lives — to strangers.
After reading this article in the news, I no longer think that public exposure of our private lives is limited to social media sites. Rather, we are expanding beyond these horizons. I believe the Internet has swept our trend-setting and technology-driven society to unimaginable levels. Exposing ourselves and our lives through words and pictures has become a thing of the past; live video streaming is here and now.
The birth of a child is a private and intimate time for a family to share together, and by together I do not mean with 13,350 people across the globe. The story of Salgueiro and Carreira is only one example of individuals who have begun to publically expose their private lives. It truly makes me wonder: do we even have a private sphere anymore?
In 1964, Jürgen Habermas introduced to us the idea of the public sphere. In his famous writing, The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article, Habermas states, "Citizens behave as a public body when they confer in an unrestricted fashion — that is, with the guarantee of freedom of assembly and association and the freedom to express and publish their opinions — about matters of general interest." This statement speaks volumes, as it is extremely applicable to today's society.
Today, technological advances have enabled citizens to converse in an unlimited and unobstructed manner. It is here, in these virtual realms, that they are guaranteed seamless assembly, with little to no time or space biases, as well as the freedom to express, expose and publish what they desire.
It seems to me that all of our interaction with one another falls underneath this category. Even if we are in our own private bubble, we seem to gather new ways to publically expose our lives to the world.
Even an intimate event, like the birth of a child, has found its way into the lives of others.
Although specific reference to the Internet is not evident in Habermas' writing, I think his thoughts reflect more than just the technological advances of his time. The Internet is the most important communicative technology we have today. It has played a vital role in the intrusion of our private lives for the public body through various websites.
It is important that we do not limit, nor solely hold the Internet responsible for, the discontinuation of our private sphere. Other technologies have most certainly contributed to such advancement. The example of live birth being streamed over the Internet is only one of many where the intimacy of one's private life is exposed for the world to see on an unlimited and unrestricted basis.
It is because of this that I believe the private sphere is no longer in existence.
Melissa Purdy
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
On October 16, the Toronto Star published an article about a young Ottawa couple, Nancy Salgueiro and Mike Carreira, who broadcasted the delivery of their third child live over the Internet. More than 13,000 people tuned in as the baby arrived shortly after 3 a.m. Although the live-stream did not show graphic images, it did, however, show Salgueiro "crouching in a pool of water, and then the newborn in her arms," according to the Toronto Star article by writer Zoe McKnight.
In addition, that article also stated that the video showed "footage which included a detailed lesson on placenta," otherwise known as "the baby's little house."
The purpose of this live-streamed video was not to expose their personal lives, but rather to show that childbirth should be seen as empowering, rather than frightening.
Although this video was intended for educational use, one cannot help but recognize the extreme exposure of our private lives at a new and unmasked level. Through innovative technologies through this past decade, we have begun to unravel our private lives for the world to see. Through Facebook and other social media sites, we have divulged and exposed our secrets and flaws — and most of all, the entirety of our lives — to strangers.
After reading this article in the news, I no longer think that public exposure of our private lives is limited to social media sites. Rather, we are expanding beyond these horizons. I believe the Internet has swept our trend-setting and technology-driven society to unimaginable levels. Exposing ourselves and our lives through words and pictures has become a thing of the past; live video streaming is here and now.
The birth of a child is a private and intimate time for a family to share together, and by together I do not mean with 13,350 people across the globe. The story of Salgueiro and Carreira is only one example of individuals who have begun to publically expose their private lives. It truly makes me wonder: do we even have a private sphere anymore?
In 1964, Jürgen Habermas introduced to us the idea of the public sphere. In his famous writing, The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article, Habermas states, "Citizens behave as a public body when they confer in an unrestricted fashion — that is, with the guarantee of freedom of assembly and association and the freedom to express and publish their opinions — about matters of general interest." This statement speaks volumes, as it is extremely applicable to today's society.
Today, technological advances have enabled citizens to converse in an unlimited and unobstructed manner. It is here, in these virtual realms, that they are guaranteed seamless assembly, with little to no time or space biases, as well as the freedom to express, expose and publish what they desire.
It seems to me that all of our interaction with one another falls underneath this category. Even if we are in our own private bubble, we seem to gather new ways to publically expose our lives to the world.
Even an intimate event, like the birth of a child, has found its way into the lives of others.
Although specific reference to the Internet is not evident in Habermas' writing, I think his thoughts reflect more than just the technological advances of his time. The Internet is the most important communicative technology we have today. It has played a vital role in the intrusion of our private lives for the public body through various websites.
It is important that we do not limit, nor solely hold the Internet responsible for, the discontinuation of our private sphere. Other technologies have most certainly contributed to such advancement. The example of live birth being streamed over the Internet is only one of many where the intimacy of one's private life is exposed for the world to see on an unlimited and unrestricted basis.
It is because of this that I believe the private sphere is no longer in existence.
Melissa Purdy
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
