By Lauren Silverman

What’s the new what? I say public is the new private.

Sometimes, I long for the good old days, when people knew me rather than my Facebook profile. YouTube, Flickr, and blogging websites have forever changed what people consider private.

But there’s one feature on Facebook, the social networking site I use most, that reveals how people under and over 25 view privacy differently.

Naomi: "Before maybe there wasn’t as easy a way to make these sort of comments and expressions of affection public."

That’s my friend Naomi Drexler. She’s 20 years old like me, and she’s talking about Facebook wallposts.

Wallposts are a very public way to send a message on Facebook – to write directly on a friend's profile page. If a Facebook message is the equivalent to an e-mail, then I’d say a Facebook wallpost is the equivalent to a permanent billboard.

Naomi says she errs on the side of caution.

Naomi: "I am pretty conscious of just making sure what I put on their wall is pretty platonic and safe."

But check out Naomi reading what she wrote in her most recent wall post to me:

Naomi: “The polyamorous bi thing was the best thing you have ever alluded to! I can't wait to hear the story."

I’m going to have to fade this out here. Facebook public is one thing, but public radio public... is a whole other level.

The point is, for people under 25, publicly sharing the most personal and the most mundane details is commonplace. In fact, communicating with friends through private channels has become unheard of, even PASSE. So, the last time I got a private Facebook message, I expected it to be super scandalous. Instead, it was my friend Brett Levy saying:

Brett: “Como estas, senorita poppins? Those pics that you added are funny! That was definitely a very fun night."

Lauren: "Why did you leave this in a message verses a wallpost?" 

Brett: "Hmm, well, I think, hmmm. That’s a good question."

Okay listeners, the reason Brett’s struggling with this question is because he just realized he’s not a kid anymore. He’s 30.

I know lots of people over 25 who don’t understand why I publicize my whereabouts and embarrassing escapades. It used to be enough to have a Facebook profile, but now you have to stand out. I once alluded to the crazy happenings of my life, hinted about a new crush – now I italicize, bold and capitalize my so-called secrets.

There’s no denying that transparency is trendy. But I’m still quietly debating, on Wordpress, Facebook, and Blogspot, whether public is in fact better than private.

Keep up with the latest from Youth Radio. Follow @youthradio on Twitter. Live your digital life on Facebook? Become a fan of YMI-Youth Media International and get updates delivered right to your page.