Who’s Watching Whom? A Study of Interactive Technology and Surveillance is a comprehensive essay written by Lee Humphrys looking into the effects of using social networking sites. Humphreys takes on the task of looking into many different issues over the course of this one year study. Lee Humphreys’ research looks into whether users feel safe and secure while using the site, and what they find to be strengths and weaknesses of the network. He hopes to understand to whom the shared information is going to and if those sharing the information know their true audience. Finally, Lee Humphrys also wishes to see the percentages of who is contributing and who is just surveying or “stalking” on the network. With this, Mr. Humphreys also looks to see what kinds of contributions and what types of surveillance are being used with Dodgeball.
This particular study looks at a previously existing network called Dodgeball. Dodgeball was created in 2000 and utilized in 22 cities around the United States. The social network only lasted nine years before it was shut down. It was a popular concept though and so other networks like it were started; such as FourSquare and Google Latitude. This network is similar to the previously mentioned sites because users can report their whereabouts to friends within their connections circle. Dodgeball is one of the first of its kind in social networking as it worked by using text messaging rather than GPS.
During his yearlong study Humphreys utilizes interpersonal interviewing to gather his information. He holds comprehensive interviews with users of Dodgeball to gain insight on his different concerns. He gains his target study group of 21 users from the Dodgeball founder, Dennis Crowley. ...
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...allow them to look back on the tangible happenings of their life. All in all I feel this study is very relevant to our world and especially communication and journalism professionals since social networking has become personal and business oriented. Many newspapers release their stories on social networking sites before they can hit paper and communication professionals will use social networks to make public announcements quickly and to a large audience. With this these professionals must not just know how to use the networks but also how and why they work the way they do. It also would help, in addition, to know how consumers feel about their privacy and who is watching them.
Work Cited
Humphrys, Lee. Who’s Watching Whom? A Study of Interactive Technology and Surveillance
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.2011.01570.x/abstract
Using the informal tone he enhances his argument by providing several thought-provoking statements that allow the reader to see the logic in the article, “Social media is designed for the information shared on it to be searched, and shared- and mined for profit… When considering what to share via social media, don 't think business vs. personal. Think public vs. private. And if something is truly private, do not share it on social media out of a misplaced faith in the expectation of privacy” (134). The reader should agree with Edmond that when posting or being a part of the social media bandwagon, you’re life and decisions will be up for display. Moreover, the business vs. personal and public vs. private point is accurate and logical, because evidently if you post something on any social media outlet you should expect that anyone and everyone can see it, regardless of your privacy settings. Edmond highlights that Facebook along with other social networking sites change their privacy settings whenever they please without
“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
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
“Human beings are not meant to lose their anonymity and privacy,” Sarah Chalke. When using the web, web users’ information tend to be easily accessible to government officials or hackers. In Nicholas Carr’s “Tracking Is an Assault on Liberty,” Jim Harpers’ “Web Users Get As Much As They Give,” and Lori Andrews “Facebook is Using You” the topic of internet tracking stirred up many mixed views; however, some form of compromise can be reached on this issue, laws that enforces companies to inform the public on what personal information is being taken, creating advisements on social media about how web users can be more cautious to what kind of information they give out online, enabling your privacy settings and programs, eliminating weblining,
Facebook : Every single day we read the news ,and think that Facebook might be antiprivacy. It is also observed that people often think that social networking sites offer complicated privacy settings. The CEO...
Tokunaga, R. S. (2011). Social networking site or social surveillance site? understanding the use of interpersonal electronic surveillance in romantic relationships. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(2), 705-713.
Social Networking sites play an essential role in today’s culture as they provide people with the ability to interact, blog, share pictures and videos, flirt, and date without having to move an inch. People pour their minds and hearts into the world of cyber communication; it is an easier way for them to clear their heads without having a face-to-face confrontation. Undoubtedly, this is advantageous to certain people. It helps establish connections with people, friends and family from any corner of the world, but one cannot ignore the extensive privacy breach that occurs in the universe of online social media.
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.
This research is unique because it will give light to the individuals who are against social networking that will not take to consideration that it has any positive outcomes at all and to those who believe that social networking has no downfalls and are too blinded by the social networking to even notice the affects it has on their own lives.
The first aspect being addressed is the problem with social network sites exposing information. Social networking has created an environment where it is nearly a duty to expose oneself. Profiles on these social websites are updated everyday with personal information such as locations, status, and future plans. Anyone can search another’s name and find information about their history, pictures, and activity. With the help of social networking sites...
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