# Why Not Sharing Life Isn't Secret

> Psychiatrist Serge Tisseron explains why some people don't share their lives publicly but still have strong identities.
- Title: Why Not Sharing Life Isn't Secret · Psychologies | Shortify
- Summary: Psychiatrist Serge Tisseron explains why some people don't share their lives publicly but still have strong identities. People who don't share their lives…
- Keywords: serge tisseron, psychiatry, mental health, self disclosure, privacy, identity, societal norms, modern society, Sharing, Life, Isn't, Secret
- Source: Psychologies — https://psychologies.com/moi/moi-et-les-autres-moi/Les-personnes-qui-ne-racontent-pas-leur-vie-a-tout-le-monde-ne-sont-pas-forcement-secretes-le-psychiatre-Serge-Tisseron-observe-chez-elles-une-qualite-devenue-rare-643468
- Author: Cécilia Ouibrahim
- Published: 2026-10-14T18:01:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: serge tisseron, psychiatry, mental health, self disclosure, privacy, identity, societal norms, modern society
## Why Not Sharing Life Isn't Secret
People who don't share their lives widely aren't secretly hiding; they maintain boundaries for mental health and authenticity.

> Les personnes qui ne racontent pas leur vie à tout le monde ne sont pas forcément secrètes
## Society's Image Overload
Social media amplifies the need to show life through curated images and stories for likes, not real experiences.

> On poste d&eacute;sormais une image de ce que l'on mange avant de le go&ucirc;ter
## The Visibility Norm
Visibility has become a social norm since the 1970s, with individuals crafting identities for validation through online presence.

> Le processus est né dès les années 1970, avec des dynamiques socioculturelles d'individuation
## Why Not Share Everything?
Not sharing life isn't a lack of confidence but a sign of strong identity and the ability to set boundaries.

> Non par peur des autres ou manque de confiance en soi, mais peut-être, au contraire, est-ce le signe d'une identité solide
## The Concept of Opacity
Opacity allows people to be present without being fully visible, recognized without being accessible, and loved without being completely known.

> Nous avons tous et toutes « droit à l'opacité »
## Serge Tisseron's Extimité
Serge Tisseron describes 'extimité' as sharing fragments of inner life for validation while maintaining privacy.

> Le processus par lequel des fragments du soi intime sont proposés au regard d'autrui afin d'être validés
## 4 Ways to Stay Retired
Timidness, introversion, modesty, and discretion are distinct ways to maintain distance without losing identity.

> La timidité est un caractère subi, un inconfort, parfois une souffrance
## Balancing Self and Society
Finding balance between what you show and what you keep is key to mental health and authentic relationships.

> De trouver la lisière, parfois ténue, entre la visibilité qui nous nourrit et la dépendance excessive au regard d'autrui
## Key takeaway

People who don't share their lives widely aren't secretly hiding; they maintain boundaries for mental health and authenticity.