Conclusion

Abstract

This chapter is in four parts. The first part briefly summarises the earlier chapters and suggests how this work challenges conventional wisdom about Web 2.0 and privacy. The second part balances the concerns raised through the rest of this book about the potential harms from self-disclosure on social media with an overview of the many potential benefits that also accrue to users. In the third part I outline several possible interventions by governments, educators and social media companies themselves to minimise the risks posed by the use of such services without curtailing their benefits. Lastly, I set out an agenda for future research and call for a new debate to take place about how we as a society should come to terms with social media.