Saoirse Hanley: Why do we think it’s OK to sneakily film people doing something innocuous in public then tear them apart online?

We shouldn’t have to fear our most private moments being exposed online for the world to see

"The point is we were never supposed to be seen by so many eyes. With the advent of the internet, and particularly thanks to social media, we are always online." Image: Getty

Saoirse Hanley

The latest season of reality show Big Brother may be in the rearview mirror, but the prospect of being watched at all times remains — and not just for the contestants. It’s becoming increasingly perilous to exist as a person who wants to avoid being plastered all over the internet, as the smartphone physically enables us to record at all times and as society says it is OK.

Scrolling on X recently, as a journalist is wont to do, I came across a post with a photo of a random man with a bag on his back. The post poked fun at his appearance, and many others jumped aboard to crack a joke of their own. This man was not a celebrity, rather he was just a man on the street carrying a bag.