Nathan Jurgenson writes of the Facebook Eye, in which our desire to post well-received content has shaped our offline experience. Everything is thought of in terms of potential likes, comments, shares. The non-likeable is ignored (Aunt Helen’s hugs, last night’s tasty but unattractive dinner).

“The ultimate power of social media is how it burrows into us, our minds, our consciousness, changing how we consciously experience the world even when logged off.” (Jurgenson.)

I feel guilty about the constant connection. Even when my devices are off, an interesting thought will be instantly assessed for social network potential, burrowing deep in me until it is posted, given a chance to “prove its worth.”

Attracting approval is not my sole post motivator: tweets as bookmarks, sometimes posts that I know won’t generate approval. Geek rebel.

Jurgenson’s Eye isn’t Facebook or Twitter-specific. It’s all forms of communication. Remembering parts of my day that will make good dinner talk. The musician who hears a catchy riff that she’d like to repurpose.

But many of us are on Facebook and Twitter. Many of us are afflicted by the Eye. We assume the intentions of the group snapping pictures at the bar. Post it, share it.

“Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral…technology’s interaction with the social ecology is such that technical developments frequently have environmental, social, and human consequences that go far beyond the immediate purposes of the technical devices and practices themselves.” (Kranzberg via boyd.)

Interesting how websites often encourage sharing, as if the biting need to share wasn’t already part of our souls.

Of course, everyone sharing means endless content. There is always more to read.

“He read all those stories, yet didn’t take away anything particularly important or memorable. As if, at the end of the day, not much is gained from scouring and consuming as much as we can on the Internet.” (Rowlands.)

Your guide to the net! Every site!

Trying to learn everything will result in nothing but an upset stomach.

Pocket, among others, makes bookmarking sexy. As if by bookmarking you have learned something.

The responsibility of a net citizen to assist the attention economy. We are all strained.