Online Privacy: Get Over It By Andrew Keen

Impact of Online Privacy The 21st century has witnessed a paradigm shift in the communications and the mediums societies depend on for relay and receive information. Andrew Keen, in his article “Sharing is a trap,” worryingly notes that the development and advancement of internet related technologies over the last two decades have radically transformed the way people connect or interact (Keen 1). In his argument, Keen notes that such modern methods of communication have negatively impacted on society due to their infringement on privacy. However, Jeff Jarvis, in his article “Get Over It,” contradicts Keen by stating that the trade-off between greater connectivity for less privacy can be good to society in the long term. It is true that the

Specifically, this postulates that the cloud of invisibility that existed when modes such as letters were preferred before the invention of the internet was invented has disappeared. The new promise of social connectivity championed by online social platforms such as social media and location sharing application such as Foursquare have gradually decimated individual privacy. Jarvis paints a more conciliatory picture by noting that the new age of openness and sharing heralded by the online connectivity ought to be protected and embraced due to its perceived social benefits. Consequently, he asserts that “we meet people, make friends and stay connected. We spread ideas. We get attention. We gather information. We gain trust through transparency” (Jarvis

As a result, the increasing shift towards social innovation from traditional forms of social networking such as data distribution and manipulation represents a worrying trend. Individual online personal data is being combined with advanced with algorithms to create a “social graph” (Keen 1). Such innovations may be beneficial for law enforcement, manufacturers and marketers, if used ethically, However, the lack of adequate legislation to protect users from the abuse of their online personal information, which Jarvis sees as a Pandora’s Box of internet censorship, introduces the risk of abuse of such noble technology. Unscrupulous corporations and governments can easily misuse such information, which consumers share without a full understanding of its possible repercussions, for their selfish