Abstract
During the last 200 years media culture has changed dramatically and with it the participation and use of media by recipients. With a summary reconstruction of the medial and societal transformation processes in that period this paper aims to explain the observation of increasing self-expression, and the disintegration of the private and public spheres. It shall provide evidence, that this behaviour is used as a strategic one, which may enable individuals or users, respectively, to compensate for allegedly lost authenticity in their living environment.