The Washington Post reports how the internet is a growing web of exhibitionists all seeking to find their 15 minutes of fame. This article is helpful because it points to a tension that exists between people’s ‘right to privacy’ and their desire for popularity:

What’s interesting culturally and politically is that their popularity contradicts the belief that people fear the Internet will violate their right to privacy. In reality, millions of Americans are gleefully discarding — or at least cheerfully compromising — their right to privacy. They’re posting personal and intimate stuff in places where thousands or millions can see it. People seem to crave popularity or celebrity more than they fear the loss of privacy.

Just like the tatoo that many 20-somethings will wish they didn’t have 30 years from now, many people, in 30 years, may wish that what they are doing now won’t be available on the internet:

The larger reality is that today’s exhibitionism may last a lifetime. What goes on the Internet often stays on the Internet. Something that seems harmless, silly or merely impetuous today may seem offensive, stupid or reckless in two weeks, two years or two decades. Still, we are clearly at a special moment. Thoreau famously remarked that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thanks to technology, that’s no longer necessary. People can now lead lives of noisy and ostentatious desperation. Or at least they can try.

The internet provides the best outlet ever created in history for people to seek the approval of men instead of the approval of God. If they can just get a few more friends on Facebook; If they can just get a few more inbound links to their blog; If they can just get a few more people to view their Youtube video; then they will find the fulfillment they’ve been craving. That’s the perverse logic driving this new explosion of exhibitionism.

I am remided of Paul’s description of the world in Philippians 3:18-19…”For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.”

So many of those seeking internet fame are glorying in their shame. How else do you describe some of the perversity. Until Christ returns as a conquering King, people will continue to live for their own glory instead of His. In the meantime, we must continue to redeem the internet instead of relish in its exhibitionism.