Addressing the Privacy Myth in the Technology World

In the twenty first century many people like to think they understand and value their privacy.  The unfortunate reality is, not many people even know when they're compromising their own highly valued privacy.  In this day and age when many people have cheap and easy access to technology, they often times don't know when they implicitly compromise their own privacy.  The internet, while one of our greatest assets, is also a huge liability for unintentionally waiving our rights to privacy.  The trickiest part of all, and perhaps the most discouraging, most times the internet warns us.


Ever signed up for an app on Facebook, or signed up for a website?  Do you know how much information you really share when you do? Remember that agree to terms and conditions button, do you really read it?  When it talks about a privacy policy, do you really go through it?  I don't.  After attempting to read one or two I realized, who has that kind of time?  Many of these agreements have included clause after clause of their fine print stipulations in which they can collect information off of your computer or phone etc. without your explicit permission beyond the privacy agreement. How can they do this without you knowing?  Simple, you agreed to it.  By pressing that "I Agree" button you are signing an electronic contract with that site allowing them to do whatever they have stated in the somewhat ridiculous long and obtuse privacy policy and terms and conditions.

Too good to be true, is far more accurate a statement than we should like.  When websites offer free things, often times these things are just too good to be true.  You pay in information, something you can't barter back.  Most times you wouldn't notice, tell you get those pesky tall marketer calls.  Next time when you're sitting there wondering, how did they all get MY number?  Remember, that free thing, that free site, a free trial, not so free anymore.  How high a price can you put on the ever important and not so understood, personal and electronic privacy?

.

Feeling angry yet?  Well, you're not alone, but believe or not things could be worse.  Back in 1995 the

U.S Federal Trade Commission, also known as the FTC, has been working on setting appropriate rules and guides for companies and corporations to follow online (Campbell, Martin, & Fabos 2013).  These rules are changing to adapt to the current situations, but the internet is not something that can be constantly policed and contained under guidelines.  Ultimately it's largely up to the consumer to protect their privacy.

You might wonder now, what would anyone want with your information?  Well, more than you might think.  Your internet browsing history can be sent to analysts which then help make decisions about products you may or may not support.  Ever wonder how sometimes ads pop up that seem personalized just for you and your preferences?  Well, most likely that's exactly the case.  By surfing through your information companies can tailor pick ads and promotions that are most likely to appeal to you. Sometimes to trick you into giving out more information.  Don't fall for their traps.

So what can you do?  Simple and yet disappointing because the best thing to protect yourself is to educate yourself.  Limit your exposure by knowing what you're agreeing to when you click that agree button.  If you don't feel like you have the time to read the policies yourself, do a little internet detective work on the websites you're thinking about giving your information to.  The more you know, the better you can help protect your privacy.

Here is a short video about why you should care if you don't already yet.  In case everything you know isn't enough to make you wary of those information gathering websites, this should help educate you on what people really do with that information.

Hopefully armed with the information that books and the internet provide, we can all strive towards a clearer understanding of what we share with the world.  I for one, know that I will be doing a whole lot more research before I hand over any of my information.  And while sharing is all fine and well, my information is personal, and you, and anyone else,  can't have it.