Australian Student Studies Facebook's Impact On Personality 

A PhD student in Australia believes that social networking sites may play a role in who we are as people. According to the "Courier Mail," Theresa Sauter is studying how websites like Facebook help people form their own identities. She explains, quote, "A lot of people see social networking as a new way for people to interact but I'm interested in examining it as a way to form an identity and understand ourselves." The Queensland University of Technology student points out that even early Christians and Puritans kept diaries to "explore and heal themselves." She adds, quote, "People have always felt this way but doing it in the public realm means they are simultaneously surrendering some of their privacy." Facebook user Josh O'Sullivan supports Sauter's study saying, quote, "When I'm frustrated it's pretty nice to have a good 'Facey' rant. It's definitely nice to put it out into the universe."