And while it would be uplifting to believe that Americans are willing to
sacrifice privacy for the sole good of foiling Al Qaeda, that's hardly
the case. Other motives include such quotidian imperatives as shopping,
hooking up, seeking instant entertainment and information, and finding
the fastest car route--not to mention being liked (or at least "liked")
and followed by as many friends (or "friends") and strangers as
possible, whether online or on basic cable. In a society where economic
advancement is stagnant for all but those at the top, a public profile
is the one democratic currency most everyone can still afford and aspire
to--an indicator of status, not something to be embarrassed about.
-- Frank Rich "When Privacy Jumped The Shark."
New York Magazine
Jun 30, 2013
http://nymag.com/news/frank-rich/domestic-surveillance-2013-7/