How to Prevent the Loss of Privacy

921 Words2 Pages

Social networking has revolutionized communication. Sharing pictures or updating a status has become easier and faster than ever. It does not matter where the individual is or what they are doing—it only takes a few thumbs punches on a screen and their profile is updated. Some examples of social medium include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapshot, and others. However, the use of social media can have risks such as the loss of an individual’s privacy. In his article, “Privacy as Product of Safety”, James Grimmelmann reveals that Facebook users care about their privacy, however they have great trouble achieving it. Frequent Facebook use raises the concern of privacy loss, since it serves as a tool for everybody to obtain information that should be kept private, it is imperative to raise awareness in order to prevent losing privacy entirely.
The rapid adoption of Facebook creates a wrong image of “privacy” that users do not notice. Facebook users have the idea that their information is private. However, only a “substantial part of what they mean by “privacy” is readily achievable—at least most of the time” (Grimmelmann 796). In other words, “privacy” is difficult to obtain. When Facebook users try to establish privacy it is almost impossible because most of the time there is already too much information out there. Little does Facebook users know that, “Social networking sites activate the subconscious cues” makes Facebook users think they are “interacting within bounded, closed, private spaces” (803). Users are fooled thinking that their information is kept safe and that only those they allow can see it, but this is not the case. Facebook seems to give options about privacy settings to the extent that we can control who can see ...

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...asures that are helpful to stay aware of the consequences; For instance, “limit the people who are able to see the users’ profiles, select the proper privacy settings on Facebook, and avoid accepting stranger’s requests”. The most important point is that society needs to become aware that there is a problem with Internet safety and the best solution is to be aware of the risks so that the proper steps are taken.

Works Cited

Turkle, Sherry. “Can You Hear Me Now?” Reading Pop Culture: A Portable Anthology. Ed. Jeff Ousborne. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013. 227-35. Print.
Grimmelmann, James. "Privacy As Product Safety." Widener Law Journal 19.3 (2010): 793-827. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2014.
Fodeman, Doug, and Marje Monroe. "The Impact Of Facebook On Our Students." Teacher Librarian 36.5 (2009): 36-40. Academic Search Complete. Web. 8 Mar. 2014.

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