Facebook: A Modern Privacy Invasion

The 21st century has brought a lot of modern ideas, innovations, and technology. One of these is social media. The invention of Facebook has completely changed the way we communicate with one another. Instant messaging, photo sharing, and joining online groups have created a way for families and friends to connect. Some argue that Facebook is the greatest invention however, while it is seemingly harmless, Facebook has created an invasion of privacy. The accessibility of Facebook and its widespread use has created privacy problems for users, teens, and interviewees by allowing easy control to viewers. Our country was founded on the idea of American’s rights of which includes the implied right to privacy in the Bill of Rights. No one has the

If a user often views things related to cooking for example, then Facebook will start making ads pop up for cookies, grocery stores, and other food related items. Even the advertising industry is breaching on user’s privacy. When someone goes shopping at the store, there is not someone stalking them writing down everything they look at on a pad of paper, and then suggesting related stores to him or her. That would be very suspicious. Now, with Facebook, the company sneakily violates user’s privacy while making them think it is smart technology and is beneficial. Psychologically, advertisers are becoming smarter into tricking their customers. Ad suggestions are more or less an invasion of privacy by the company

This is yet another way of invading privacy. In the past, employers would only know what you told them in your interview. They would assess your skills and determine if you were right for the job, aside from knowing your beliefs or views. However, now with Facebook an employer can see all the personal information, this can negatively influence a candidate’s job. The same goes for those who are currently employed and potential students. “Dr. Nora Barnes, Director for the Center of Marketing Research at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, published a study that showed more than 20% of colleges and universities search social networks for their admissions candidates” (Fodeman). This is becoming a part of the admissions process, but it is unfair. Searching someone’s Facebook to determine his or her admissions eligibility is wrong and a privacy invasion. As long as a student has fulfilled the school’s requirements and done well in school, why should it matter what their personal lives are like? In the time before Facebook, this would be like a school sending someone to secretly follow a potential student and see what he or she does in their