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The effect of social media on our privacy
Social media and privacy in our society
The effect of social media on our privacy
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I've become a huge advocate of the role that "social media" can play in creating participatory environments within communities and local governments, however I've rarely taken a step back to look at the privacy implications of the rapidly emerging "Gov 2.0". Technology advocates (such as myself) tend to push a system where people dump their ideas, feelings, and misgivings about their communities into an online environment, but is there ever a moment where we stop and think about how we might be asking people to incrementally give up their privacy? Each piece of information, each opinion, each comment allows potential onlookers to gain more insight into our private lives. In The Future of Reputation author Daniel Solove takes a broad look at privacy on the internet and the consequences of what can happen when information intended toward one audience ends up in the wrong hands. (more after the jump) …show more content…
In the midst of this information rich society, it seems that there are a greater number of people that consider their own knowledge on a subject to have reached a level suitable to critique the opinions of others. In fact with many Web 2.0 technologies, the open dissection and criticism of ideas is not only possible but in many ways highly encouraged. We freely post comments on blogs, we share information on Twitter with our own insightful twist, we quip about articles sarcastically on Facebook, and in so many other ways we no longer allow a fear of our own lack of knowledge to hold back our opinion. Solove explores the ways in which these information exchanges, criticisms, and comments function and how they diverge from our methods of communicating outside the
The word “privacy” has a different meaning in our society than it did in previous times. You can put on Privacy settings on Facebook, twitter, or any social media sights, however, nothing is truly personal and without others being able to view your information. You can get to know a person’s personal life simply by typing in their name in google. In the chronicle review, “Why Privacy Matters Even if You Have ‘Nothing to Hide,'" published on May 15th 2011, Professor Daniel J. Solove argues that the issue of privacy affects more than just individuals hiding a wrong. The nothing-to-hide argument pervades discussions about privacy. Solove starts talking about this argument right away in the article and discusses how the nothing-to-hide
“The standards of what we want to keep private and what we make public are constantly evolving. Over the course of Western history, we’ve developed a desire for more privacy, quite possibly as a status symbol…”(Singer) Technological change leads to new abuses, creating new challenges to security, but society adapts to those challenges. To meet the innate need for privacy, we learn what to reveal and where, and how to keep secret what we don't want to disclose. “Whether Facebook and similar sites are reflecting a change in social norms about privacy or are actually driving that change, that half a billion people are now on Facebook suggests that people believe the benefits of connecting with others, sharing information, networking, self-promoting, flirting, and bragging outweigh breaches of privacy that accompany such behaviours,”(Singer) This is obvious by the continuous and unceasing use of social media platforms, but what needs to be considered is that this information is being provided willingly. “More difficult questions arise when the loss of privacy is not in any sense a choice.”(Singer) When the choice to be anonymous it taken away through social media, the person loses the ability to keep their personal information
In the recent years of the 21st century, the human race has come upon a golden age of communication, where we have seen the rise of the internet’s power to inform and fuel massive movements. While this is true, on the other side of the monitor, Humanity struggles to overcome its base instincts. “The Backfire Effect”, written by David McRaney, is a reflection of people’s current state on their own thoughts in comparison to other opinions. This titular mechanism, as described by the author, negates this ease of access to vital information (possibly an idea or fact contradictory to our own views) due to our mind protecting core beliefs. As we can see, this is stifling to the goal of a world where technology and reason is king, a world we all
Edward Snowden is America’s most recent controversial figure. People can’t decide if he is their hero or traitor. Nevertheless, his leaks on the U.S. government surveillance program, PRISM, demand an explanation. Many American citizens have been enraged by the thought of the government tracing their telecommunication systems. According to factbrowser.com 54% of internet users would rather have more online privacy, even at the risk of security (Facts Tagged with Privacy). They say it is an infringement on their privacy rights of the constitution. However, some of them don’t mind; they believe it will help thwart the acts of terrorists. Both sides make a good point, but the inevitable future is one where the government is adapting as technology is changing. In order for us to continue living in the new digital decade, we must accept the government’s ability to surveil us.
Jeff Jarvis is a journalist, professor, and public speaker. In his book, “Public Parts”, Jarvis’s own opinions on “publicness” are stated plainly. He sees both social and personal benefits to living a totally public life on the internet. David Kirkpatrick is a technology journalist and author. He offers no opinion of his own on subject of total public disclosure. He has written two books on the social media giant Facebook. Kirkpatrick’s book “The Facebook Effect” was reviewed by David Pogue in The New York Times, Sunday Book Review. Pogue wrote, “You come away with a creepy new awareness of how a directory of college students is fast becoming a directory of all humanity — one that’s in the hands of a somewhat strange 26-year-old wearing a T-shirt and rubber Adidas sandals.” His book may leave readers more cautious than ever about what information they themselves are uploading to the
The personal connection Americans have with their phones, tablets, and computers; and the rising popularity of online shopping and social websites due to the massive influence the social media has on Americans, it is clear why this generation is called the Information Age, also known as Digital Age. With the Internet being a huge part of our lives, more and more personal data is being made available, because of our ever-increasing dependence and use of the Internet on our phones, tablets, and computers. Some corporations such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook; governments, and other third parties have been tracking our internet use and acquiring data in order to provide personalized services and advertisements for consumers. Many American such as Nicholas Carr who wrote the article “Tracking Is an Assault on Liberty, With Real Dangers,” Anil Dagar who wrote the article “Internet, Economy and Privacy,” and Grace Nasri who wrote the article “Why Consumers are Increasingly Willing to Trade Data for Personalization,” believe that the continuing loss of personal privacy may lead us as a society to devalue the concept of privacy and see privacy as outdated and unimportant. Privacy is dead and corporations, governments, and third parties murdered it for their personal gain not for the interest of the public as they claim. There are more disadvantages than advantages on letting corporations, governments, and third parties track and acquire data to personalized services and advertisements for us.
To begin, I strongly believe that social media makes use of surveillance to exploit its users by manufacturing desires, communities, and audiences. The goal of this type of media is almost entirely the generation of advertising revenue. Surveillance provides meaning of improving the efficiency of advertising and offering private information that can be exploited by these groups towards other ends. As Andrejevic (2002) suggests, this information is still private, and so it does not constitute the loss of privacy in the modern digital age. However, it place private information in the hands of private corporations. Such as, how it will be used, and how it can be used is a question of some debate. While Andrejevic’s work has proved remarkably prescient, he failed to predict the threats to privacy that might arise if these private corporations ever released their privately held information to other parties, such as the government (243). This has become a more crucial issues in recent years.
The internet and all technological advances give us easier communication and increase productivity, however, at what cost? The loss of one's privacy. It is okay only when it is violated for one's own protection. There are different reason, good and bad, for the loss in privacy. In 1984 the characters don't have privacy due to big brother always watching,the NSA does more snooping than securing, social media does more than connect friends, and technological advances make our lives easier.
The general public of Americans believe that their lives are private, not public. Most people do not want their private and personal lives shared with random people they’re not even acquainted with. Privacy is held up high in the eyes of Americans and the majority don’t want to change that. In the novel The Circle by Dave Eggers, a 24-year-old girl named Mae grasps her dream job of working at the Circle thanks to her friend Annie. The Circle is a huge company that creates and supports advancing technologies. Eggers notes that the Circle has its own social media site that connects everyone to everything and backs up all information received in their cloud. Mae creates many new relationships, such as her love interest Francis and her best friend
The public sphere has been falsely represented as a virtual place where one can share and debate opinions; ...
The aim of this study was to investigate individual’s behavior around privacy issues and factors affecting it. For this purpose, a research model was developed with external factors (age, gender and profession) and the factors privacy concern, attitude and audience awareness influencing audience behavior. Also, hypotheses were formulated about the research model to examine differences based on gender, age and profession on individual’s attitude, concern and awareness.
This world has changed, even as 20 years old, I am afraid of where technology is going already everyone is glued to it; as a kid computers were new, but we didn’t care we played outside, and cell phones were for emergencies, not fun. Due to technology privacy almost doesn’t exist in this day of technology anymore, there are secret spy cameras being placed in homes by jealous friends or family; social media sites pushing you to spill your age, looks, feelings, life story, and more, and “Big Brother” and “Little Brother” everywhere. Everyone has to be careful because everywhere there is someone trying to steal someone’s identity whether the reason is for money, for legality in a new country, or even to hide a past troubled life. Privacy in the world has been, is now, and always will be extremely important. Growing up in school after getting my first cell phone I was fascinated with new technology and couldn’t wait for the next cell phone to be released. I was always highly interested in what was next, but that was then when I was a young and obvious little kid, now as a young adult in this day of age I have an entirely different feel for all of it; privacy no longer exists and technology is the primary blame.
In the wake of the many attacks within our country in the past month alone, the idea of freely letting the government seize information in the interest of preventing these attacks and save countless lives becomes significantly more appealing. It means that now, we as citizens are directly involved in the security of our own nation. We then become part of that “greater good”. We can make a big difference in the lives of our fellow Americans just from the very simple act of surrendering something as seemingly small and insignificant as privacy.
Perhaps the founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, said it best when he claimed that privacy is no longer a “social norm.” Virtually everyone has a smart phone and everyone has social media. We continue to disclose private information willingly and the private information we’re not disclosing willingly is being extracted from our accounts anyway. Technology certainly makes these things possible. However, there is an urgent need to make laws and regulations to protect against the stuff we’re not personally disclosing. It’s unsettling to think we are living in 1984 in the 21st century.
The growing popularity of information technologies has significantly altered our world, and in particular, the way people interact. Social networking websites are becoming one of the primary forms of communication used by people of all ages and backgrounds. No doubt, we have seen numerous benefits from the impact of social media communication: We can easily meet and stay in touch with people, promote ourselves, and readily find information. However, these changes prompt us to consider how our moral and political values can be threatened. One common fear among users is that their privacy will be violated on the web. In her book, Privacy in Context, Helen Nissenbaum suggests a framework for understanding privacy concerns online. She focuses particularly on monitoring and tracking, and how four “pivotal transformations” caused by technology can endanger the privacy of our personal information. One website that may pose such a threat is Facebook.