Researchers explore the impact of social networking on shyness

Have you ever cancelled a Facebook status update when you thought about who would see it, or switched off your phone to avoid an awkward call?. Researchers at the University of Sussex are working on how we can engage with the digital revolution without holding our lives up for scrutiny. Feelings of incompetence, shyness and embarrassment can be exacerbated by the demands of social media, Dr Chalmers says. "This project is about looking to the future, the pervasive computing vision and the importance of 'control', because there could be an awful lot of information out there about you. "Most people feel shy in some situations and lack of control over how we present ourselves, when we choose to engage and what we choose to reveal, contribute to this. Allowing users of the latest technology, (such as social networks, interactive learning environments and mobile services) to regain this control may make them more widely acceptable and beneficial." Dr Susie Scott, sociologist and shyness expert at the University of Sussex, is jointly leading the project into ways to combat the epidemic of shyness that technology might evoke, she says: "The sociology team on the project is asking whether it is ethical and appropriate for new technologies to be forcing people to interact and perform more, and whether these new devices are a good thing. Our stance is that shyness is not a problem, or an individual's fault, but rather a normal reaction to stressful social situations, such as interactive art gallery exhibitions that require visitors to 'perform' in some way.