Privacy & Confidentiality

Privacy and confidentiality concerns have increased due to the use of the internet in general. For example, when buying a product online the purchaser must input their personal information including name, address, phone number, credit card information, and email. There are certain technologies, such as encryption software that require keys to view the information that people submit into websites. This software is helpful, but individuals submitting their information cannot be certain that this information is not being intercepted or being used unethically by the intended recipient. This situation is the same when inputting information into new media websites, especially social networking sites. You do not only submit the information listed above when signing up for social networking websites, but you also input personal information including your thoughts, likes, dislikes, hobbies, favorite movies, foods, stores, restaurants, products, services, and all sorts of information. Social networking sites like Facebook also publicize the location of where people are posting certain posts if the person is posting using a mobile device. The publication of all of one's personal information can make it possible to track and have a view into one's personal life. Social networking sites have made it possible for people to access huge databases storing the personal information of millions of people around the world. This social media technology has eliminated privacy and confidentiality because of the previous discussed reasons. Not only can user's of the social networking sites access other user's information, but the company's operating the social networking sites have sold consumer information to businesses in order for companies to target certain consumers and bombard them with advertisements. Also, these companies use people's information to find what consumers like or dislike in order to discover new trends that can be profitable. People must be aware that their information isn't only being viewed by the social networking sites that they sign up to, but it can also be viewed and used by other members of the sites and businesses that purchase personal information. Personal information is being widely distributed, which has significant negative effects on the preservation of privacy. The only way to sustain one's privacy is to avoid submitting personal information on the internet, limit the use of social networking sites, and carefully choose what information they post online.