Abstract
Mutual surveillance on Facebook is a social act that facilitates connections and an analysis of the discourse on the 'People Sleeping at Newcastle University' Facebook page shows students choosing social cohesion over privacy in a number of ways. Social network use has been identified as serving a number of functions for users. A person watching, or surveillance, has become a widespread cultural practice. Students, in particular, are accustomed to official surveillance practices that range along a spectrum from care to control. For social networks to function, users must submit information, and in doing so they make otherwise transient activities and thoughts permanent and available to others. Facebook is composed of users seeking out and watching over each other. Facebook users seem willing to perform themselves online and offer that performance up for surveillance on their personal home pages. The students use the site to learn about the interests, actions, and values of the community, thus providing a sense of belonging.