I’m in two minds about what has been stirring up our campus in the last couple of weeks. Social media sites such as “Spotted…” have taken off at an alarming rate, confirming the notion that we have never been more fascinated by the whereabouts of certain people at certain times doing certain activities. This has been compounded by the circulation of the compromising and recently leaked CCTV footage of the Ram during SSB. Hasn’t the Guild only just recovered from the first lot of SSB controversies and pressure to remove the student Confessions page?
I am an avid fan of Gossip Girl and I would even go as far as saying that I always thought it would be quite cool to have something akin to that on campus. So why has the success of “Spotted: Exeter Uni Library” surprised me? I guess that the fact that we are all so intrinsically linked by social media means that it was inevitable to have our very own Gossip Girl style site watching our every move on Campus. However successful it has been, there is something unsettling about it.
The Facebook page that has taken our University by storm covers practically every nook and cranny of campus- from the shaded trees near the health centre to changing rooms in the Lemmy. Is there anywhere to hide? I don’t know about you, but I’m actually beginning to feel a little self-conscious on campus.
As if that’s not creepy enough, we can now rest assured that wherever CCTV looks out for your safety, there is someone standing by with a camera phone to make sure that any slip-ups or embarrassing moments are ready for large-scale distribution. It’s like You’ve Been Framed with a sinister twist. Or worse, Big Brother– there to publicly name and shame anyone and everyone.
I am not saying that “Spotted…”should undergo the same fate as the famed Confessions page, in fact, quite the opposite. It can be very entertaining (when it’s not too harsh)! It might even help people to curb their bad library etiquette- the people who leave their books sprawled across three desks for 6 hours while they go home for a nap or have a few pints in the Ram to name a few.
The CCTV footage however, may be a step too far. This could be someone’s future we’re talking about. This doesn’t only affect the students involved, but the Guild too, and the events they put on. SSB should be about raising money for a good cause whilst having a good time. The Guild shouldn’t have to spend extra money on legal fees every time there is a bust up over choice of theme or that someone abuses their rights to watch the CCTV.
Want to have your say on this? Comment below and check out this week’s Big Question in Features and join the campus-wide debate!
Kate Townend
exeposedev 