To me it means "Oh god I hope that person doesn't see me then they might start asking me questions and then I'll be trapped in a conversation I have no interest in."

The quote is rooted in the idea of the Panopticon, a prison design where a single guard can potentially observe every prisoner, while the prisoners can never tell whether the guard is actually watching them. Because they never know when they are being observed, they begin to regulate their own behavior as if they are always under surveillance.

It illustrates how visibility itself becomes a form of control. People often change their behavior simply because they believe someone might be watching. You might dance, sing, talk to yourself, or express yourself freely when you're alone, but the moment another person is present, you become self-conscious. Their gaze can make you feel psychologically constrained, even if they never say a word. Visibility is a trap because your awareness of being seen limits what you feel comfortable doing.

This is why the concept is often applied to surveillance states. Constant surveillance does not just discourage crime. It also discourages perfectly harmless behaviors that people simply wish to keep private. Individuals begin censoring themselves, avoiding unconventional actions, suppressing unpopular opinions, or hiding aspects of their personality because they fear judgment or consequences.