Has Privacy Collapsed? Tiffany Jenkins on the Death of the Private Sphere

This conversation explores the evolution of the concepts of public and private spheres throughout history, focusing on significant periods such as ancient Greece, the Victorian era, and modern times. The discussion highlights how privacy has been perceived, the impact of technology on personal privacy, and the implications of state intervention in private lives. The conversation also delves into the political dimensions of personal issues and the confusion surrounding public and private identities in the age of social media. 00:00 The Evolution of Public and Private Spheres 25:58 Technological Impacts on Privacy 38:57 The Personal is Political: A Shift in Perspective 40:32 The Personal is Political 42:55 The Shift from Public to Private 45:57 Character and Public Life 48:59 The Complications of Me Too 52:34 Social Media and Privacy 56:46 The Blurring of Public and Private 01:00:53 The Narcissism of the Digital Age 01:05:26 The Dilemma of Public Figures 01:09:30 The Need for Boundaries 01:13:45 Revaluing the Public Sphere Quillette is an Australian-based online magazine that focuses on long-form analysis and cultural commentary. It is politically non-partisan, but relies on reason, science, and humanism as its guiding values. Quillette was founded in 2015 by Australian writer Claire Lehmann. It is a platform for free thought and a space for open discussion and debate on a wide range of topics, including politics, culture, science, and technology. Quillette has gained attention for publishing articles and essays that challenge modern orthodoxy on a variety of topics, including gender and sexuality, race and identity politics, and free speech and censorship. --- Quillette's revenue comes from our readers. We are a grassroots organisation that relies on voluntary subscriptions and community membership as our primary revenue stream. Support Quillette by becoming a subscriber: https://quillette.com/#/portal/signup Or donate send us a one-off tip: https://quillette.com/#/portal/support We made our website using Ghost, a powerful app for new-media creators to publish, share, and grow a business around their content. It comes with modern tools to build a website, publish content, send newsletters & offer paid subscriptions to members. Try it here: https://ghost.org/?via=claire91