We are all living in an age where privacy is nearly extinct. Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare, and Pinterest make all our information available to the public free of charge. Mark Zuckerberg said it best when he declared "the age of privacy is over". Being able to access an individual's private information at the click of a mouse or a finger scroll over a touch screen smart device is exciting, yet frightening at the same time. There is something about having a potential stalker appear when you check in on Facebook or Foursquare. Can you imagine standing in line waiting to pay for your caramel apple cider at Starbucks only to have a stranger approach you by asking you "aren't you the one who Tweeted you were at Starbucks about to buy a caramel apple spiced cider before you head home?" It seems pretty comical, however if the same person showed up 3 times at a different Starbucks location you were checking in at it could seem like a serial stalker was following your every move.
With readily accessible information online it is easy for identity thieves to steal personal documents, social security numbers, personal records, and bank routing numbers within seconds. Phishing attacks are most known to affect e-mail users who are unfamiliar with fraudulent websites and links, I myself have been targeted by phishing sites. All of these scams are growing more prevalent because more people are updating their information online to keep up with technology.
So what is the solution to keeping up with the age of technology and keeping a reasonable amount of privacy? Limiting the amount of information is key depending on what you hope to achieve using social media. If you are advertising and networking in the business world, personal information should be kept private. If social media is for personal networking to keep in contact with college and high school alumni, or being put to use in the entertainment industry all privacy is expected to be "thrown out the window". According to Zuckerburg, "Privacy is no longer a social norm" which is absolutely correct.
In fact, if you are a private person unwilling to indulge in social media you may even be suspected of hiding something--like a clandestine fugitive. It is the norm to publicly share your most inner secrets, even those you may have trouble sharing at the dinner table with family and especially with an entire congregation at church. Topics that you may be embarrassed to discuss around family events are becoming easier to post about online to complete strangers. Why is this? Will this eventually cause more harm than good in society? That is a question to think about. Then there are also individuals who hide behind comments on You Tube accounts who say controversial statements that can be seen worldwide. How does a computer and a mouse, or an iPad or a mobile device give people abundant courage to reveal anything and everything? If we think back to 10 years ago, the idea of exposing yourself to the world was seen as reckless abandon that only celebrities engaged in, not every day internet users.
In the world of Facebook, You Tube, Blogger, or Twitter the more you share online with friends and complete strangers, the more followers and friends you obtain, but if you are apprehensive about throwing out that line without reeling it in slightly then finding a balance is the best answer to social media networking and communicating. It all comes down to a person's own decision to post as much or as little as intended and that will vary based on one's preference and personal judgment.
