Woman and Gossip on Social Media: Between Private and Public

Social media changed human interaction, one of human interaction by gossiping. Gossip becomes a stereotype for women and is often associated with negative things. This article examines how women gossip on social media, whether women can differentiate between gossiping in public spaces, and what changes occur when they gossip on social media. Data collection was conducted by interviewing and observing women social media users in Padang. The design used in this study is a qualitative approach to women's gossiping behavior involving social networking sites. This article argues that gossip on social media is an extension of real-life socialization, while gossiping helps women to maintain contact with their environment and voice their voice over an issue. Gossiping through social media and being able to express oneself also helps to release stress. There is satisfaction when many people know the problem. Nevertheless, offline gossip is preferred when they want to counter or solve problems. Women are also increasingly understanding the boundaries between public and private, especially regarding security and privacy. The number of criminal cases on the internet makes women learn to be more careful in using social media.