Examining the Shifting Nature of Privacy, Identities, and Impression Management with Web 2.0

A common focus of internet privacy research has been on allowing users to maintain their anonymity in order that they may freely reveal personal aspects of themselves. However, with Web 2.0 and the increasing popularity of social networking sites, it has become increasingly commonplace for users to reveal their identities in order to advertise their on-line presence to their real-life associates. This position paper explores the changing nature of on-line identities, as the norm of anonymity shifts to a more accurate representation of self. The applicability of earlier on-line, information sharing privacy research findings to this new state is discussed.