The ability to update one’s digital avatar on a popular social media platform discreetly, without alerting the individual’s network, presents a degree of control over information dissemination. For example, an individual may wish to present a different image to a specific professional audience without simultaneously broadcasting the change to personal contacts.
Maintaining the confidentiality of profile picture alterations offers benefits ranging from managing personal branding to avoiding unwanted attention. Historically, social media platforms have often automatically notified users’ networks of these updates, potentially leading to various social interactions. The capability to bypass these notifications allows for a more nuanced approach to online identity management.
