Online expert: Shocks will turn to yawns

Smith said some people found the internet impersonal but it could also be a powerful tool to get in contact with people instantly. Photo / Dean Purcell

Soon, the internet will carry photos of nearly everyone in the drunken state ... and no one will care.

That is the prediction from Julien Smith, a social networking expert who is visiting New Zealand to speak at the Social Media Junction being held in Auckland today.

"Much of the stuff we say online is there forever, no matter if you put it there once and then you've deleted it, it's going to be there for a very long time."

The co-author of New York Times bestseller Trust Agents said: "Twenty-five years from now everybody is going to put their photos online.

"There will come a time when everyone will put their drunk photos on Facebook and everything will be fine.

"Now, were like 'oh it's scandal' but that's because we come from a time where these things were not commonplace. When they become commonplace we won't even think any more."

"My message is less about 'hey be careful what you put online', it's about 'be ethical in what you do and you've got nothing to hide'.

"It's like a coming wave and it's really going to change forever the way that we view relationships and view communities.

"The web is almost like a liberation in a way. It's information. When given to people, they can use it whichever way they want and they can use it to better their lives.

"The idea that we can meet people based on our interests instead of based on where we happen to meet, say in a cafe or at work, means that these relationships could possibly be better and last longer ... we can meet based on any number of things that we may have in common.

He believes fears of the internet reflect changes in societal values and he uses an example of a time when women wore only skirts that came down to their ankles.

"It's just that way right now because it's not entirely understood. Over time, we'll get over this."

Smith said some people found the internet impersonal but it could also be a powerful tool to get in contact with people instantly.

Being able to send someone a message as you were thinking of them made people feel appreciated and brought people closer together.