Review Of It's Complicated By Danah Boyd

Social media has integrated itself into the lives of teenagers. Danah Boyd’s book, It’s Complicated is a collection of literal assumptions of teenage use of social media. Boyd’s book is a recollection of a research study she conducted in order to assess the overall need of teens use of social media. Boyd focuses on eight concepts divided into separate chapters. Privacy, chapter two, explores common misconceptions of what teenagers are making available on public networks. Many of the topics covered in the chapter are related to the rest of the book therefore it is important to highlight major components of Boyd’s argument in relation to teenagers’ use of social media. Boyd argues that parents tend to generalize social media as a mechanism used

Boyd alludes to Emily Nussbaum’s New York Times article, which address a widespread belief of online privacy. She expands on adults’ common belief, which serves to acknowledge that although parents are not wrong they are simply not right. The way teenagers view privacy is different from what adults define it as. The line between public and private is blurred. Today’s society is heavily influenced by social media therefore it is important to note that teenagers are just adjusting to it. Boyd infers that parental concerns about online privacy are well intentioned, but it also not all correct. Boyd broadens this notion by inquiring Eric Schmidt, Google chairman. She writes that Schmidt believes “today’s teens are different, arguing that social norms around privacy have changed in order to justify their own business.” (56) Alluding to specific people and people who have credibility support Boyd’s overall argument. Citing sources of people who are experts in their field allows Boyd to appeal to her parental audience as they commonly seek credible

She provides concrete evidence through anecdotes and references, which establish her erudite attitude as well as her credibility. Furthermore, Boyd concludes her arguments with an antithetical parallel sentence. “Privacy doesn’t just depend on agency; being able to achieve privacy is an expression of agency.”(76) Boyd connects her appeals to defend her overall argument that teenagers have an option of privacy online, they just choose who they share it with and not with. Likewise, Boyd gives room for the audience to identify her stance on social media by giving it later on in the chapter. Chapter two of It’s Complicated, provides Boyd the bridge to introduce the remaining seven topics into the book and finally assert her argument. Boyd’s use of anecdotes, parallelism, and references appeal to the audience’s contrary belief of social media and leave them with a process by which people seek to have control over a social situation by managing impressions, imagination flow, and context.”