Social network sites reveal hidden messages

MELBOURNE: The next time you change your status on a social network site, give a second thought. This is because frequent updates may convey an impression that you are "an attention-seeking extrovert".

According to social networking analyst Laurel Papworth, there are hidden messages behind the overt displays of self-promotion on websites -- in fact, status updates can show if someone is an extrovert or fishing for sympathy.

"The extrovert, they are always going to be updating because the world revolves around them and one can assume that means the world needs to know how they are feeling from minute to minute.

"There's a lot of passive-aggressive behaviour in social networks and some interesting statuses -- I'm mad at my boss, I'm mad at mum, my teacher.

"We're expecting our good friends to come and commiserate and give presents on our page or leave comments on our page presumably in support of our emotional state," a portal quoted Papworth as saying.

She claims people who think in terms of visuals will update their photographs more often because that is what appeals to them.

"I know a girl who found out her boyfriend had broken up with her because he changed his Facebook status update. She rang him and said 'You've changed the update, what's happened?' And he said 'Can't you guess?'

"Every generation guys find a way of copping out of doing the right thing, using different communication tools, and women do as well. This is just the newest way of breaking hearts," Papworth said.

According to her, for all the possibilities of public humiliation and secrets revealed, people will continue to use the sites as they provide a sense of community.