Internet Photo Anxiety

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Sorry if this has been discussed before, but does anyone else hate putting photos of themselves on the Internet?

I had just one photo on Facebook, my profile one; a close up of my face, full make-up, and fake hair extensions. I never felt so exposed and paranoid in my whole life! It felt like people were looking at me in the street, and knew who I was and everything about me, even though without the hair and make-up I looked different. It didn’t help that my location was on show, as well. That was a couple of years back, and one of the main reasons I deleted it.

I know it’s changed quite a bit since then, but I just don’t understand how people can post pictures of themselves online, in front of complete strangers, and remain calm about it. I know people don’t look exactly like their photos, especially IRL, but it sometimes amazes me how oblivious they can be to the dangers of having their image up on show like that. Not so much with social networks, I guess, but more like dating sites and things like that.

But on the other hand, it seems the more popular social networks become, the more pressure there is to join one.

I don’t know, maybe I’m just getting old…

I've done a complete 180 on this. I am certain due to taking Luvox, which makes me more trustful and social.

Just a scientific observation. My core personality is private, secretive, and reserved. Would be nice to get back to the real me but I feel I've spilled so much over the past year and a half of being on the medicine that I can't take back what I've shared.

Oh well.

Oh, and if you're old, what am I?

I don't like it either.

I feel the same way--that's why my avatar is a symbol.

My bf has suggested I get a Facebook page. When I told him I just wanted to use the symbol, he said that wouldn't make any sense (especially since I don't want to use my full real name, either)--people on Facebook would view me as "paranoid and untrusting" if I didn't use my name and a photo.

I'm debating getting a page and putting up a real photo, but I still feel uncomfortable at the idea.

That's a big yes.

I needed a "headshot" of myself for purposes like FB and my web site. I took (what seemed like) hundreds, and finally found one that wasn't too bad, and I touched it up a little. For whatever reason, I am the least photogenic person ever. Something about photos. I always look awful in photos.

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I've had people ask why I'm not/don't join FB as well. Some of them said that you don't technically have to register under your 'real' name, and said to just put a photo up of the cat instead

Purchase - The 'old thing' was just in relation to how I feel around people my own age, even though I still get ID'd all the time

Well as of facebook goes. There are very careful strict privacy settings you can control which can designate who can or cant see your photos. I think the easiest way is to only accept people who are actually trusted friends or family as friends on facebook. You can set the privacy settings so only they can any pics that you've been tagged in, no one else.

I feel very similarly. I don't really like the idea of putting my face out there. It used to bother me when people took pictures of me because I knew they would end up on Fb. When I had Fb my pics were always of random s**t rarely of myself. I also don't feel good about putting my pic on WP for a few reasons including the TOS 'ownership of materials posted here' and my own privacy concerns

I feel the same. I'm more comfortable giving out my picture to people that I've gotten to know well, than posting it up on a social networking site. When I did have a pic up I put it in black and white, changed the light intensity, and made myself look different, unnatural, almost cartoon-like. I guess I just didn't want people to see me in full color unless I knew them well.

Had a reasonable amount of arguments with some people on facebook because I asked them to remove any picture that depicted me, or at least remove me. The funny thing is, as soon as I realize that I get my picture taken on a party or something like that, I usually approach the person and tell them that they should not bother making any pictures with me on them, since I do not give my permission to have them put online in any form. Folks agree, yet they still do it and wonder why I am quite vigilante to remind them to take the pictures offline immediately.

I too feel exposed at the idea of having my pic online anywhere, at least social networking sites anyway. As a result, the popularity of Facebook puts me in a bit of a dilemma. I don't use it much due to exposure anxiety. Now, if my photo ended up randomly in a general view of a street or something, that'd be OK, as people wouldn't be looking specifically for me on such photos.

I actually like internet photos because I pick them.

If I didn't, I would hate them.

Anyways, I don't feel exposed, but maybe that's because I like attention.

Hmm... interesting subject, I am the type of asperger's person that continues to feel attracted to people despite them making me psychologically and physically stressed out. I don't mind posting photo's, but, I have this perception that I look strange even though people tell me otherwise. I very much try to get myself exposure in the "world" that I have such a difficult time living in. There have been many key social contacts that have spawned some great friendships, even job connections have been made online by NOT being as anti-social and reclusive as I was in my teenage years.

Yep, don't like it at all. I don't think I have more than 1 picture of me on my computer, and the only pictures with me on it on the net are password/ssl protected.

I cringe at pretty much any photo, video, or audio recording of myself. Even though I've been tagged in other FB pictures thanks to my family, for four years I've never changed the one profile pic I have of myself. I just don't feel at all comfortable with the thought that nearly 7 billion people are now able to see what I look like.