About this Article
Social networking is “hep” and the “in thing” nowadays. Entire generation Y is hooked on it. Undoubtedly, it is a convenient way to connect with family, friends and other people. But that’s the bright side, what most people don’t realise is that there is a dark side too. This article is aimed at highlighting some of the perils of social networking sites specifically related to the privacy of the account holder.
Background
Today, it’s a common feature to see teenagers hooked on to social networking sites all the time, as if it were a life support system. What’s more, teenagers are likely have several friends and connections online or in the virtual world, even when continents, distances and time zones may separate them. Sometimes, it is at the cost of having friends in the physical (or real) world.
Come to think of it, it really isn’t all that different from the past. I mean that, once upon a time it was “hep” to have pen friends, then email, bulletin boards and chat rooms became a fad. One could say that it’s the same old wine in a new bottle – today you have friends, followers and connections on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin (to name a few popular social networking sites).
Agreed, it’s a convenient way to connect with family, friends and other people with common interest. And with the technological advances today, it’s almost effortless, because the site does all the work of finding all your “long lost” friends, colleagues and relatives. Many times, these sites offer “suggestions” regarding people you may be interested in connecting to or groups you may want to follow. This, you may say, is the bright side of social network. How- ever, what people don’t know (or care enough to know) is that there is a dark side as well.
“Nahhh!!!!! Can’t be!!!! Social networking is harmless banter, we are jus hangin out, what’s wrong with that?????
Chill yaar, you are just being paranoid.” I am sure that you have heard this before. Well, you are about to get a rude awakening.
The Dark Side
Couple of weeks ago, a furore was raised in the press and all over the internet, when 2 teenaged girls were hauled to the police station for posting some innocuous status updates on one of the popular social networking sites. While a lot is written on how the law enforcers should have acted, how draconian the internet law is when it came to the freedom of speech and of course, the whole debate of what should be done (or should not be done) and who is responsible (or irresponsible). Despite all this noise and chatter about the who, what, where and when, most people missed out on a little known ‘open secret’. What’s this ‘open secret’ you may ask.
Well, forget all the chatter and the noise for a moment and think, how many people actually gave a thought to the following:
• How did the mob come to know of the “personal” post?
• Were they friends with the teen who posted the message?
• Did the teen intend that persons other than her “friends” see the post/tweet?
• Can persons other than one’s friends see his/ her posts/tweets?
• How can anyone see my posts /tweets?
• And of course, the million dollar question that begs to be answered –
How did they get the address of the teen who posted the update and the vital information that the teen was located within (ahem) striking distance? This question becomes a ten million dollar question when you ask, if they were not friends and they were not connected, were they supposed (allowed) to see such personal information (i.e., Location of the person putting up the post).
In all the printed press, news reports, countless Tweets and Facebook updates there is hardly a peep into these questions. If you were a conspiracy theorist, you would know for sure that “something just ain’t right here”. You may have guessed it by now …. Nobody noticed (and all probability likely to remain unnoticed) that the real transgression was the “a compromise of the privacy of your personal data”.
By the way, if you didn’t ask this question earlier, then it would be a good indicator that you too have chosen to remain blissfully unaware of “what’s out there”.
The Ugly Truth
SOCIAL NETWORKS AREN’T RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PRIVACY – YOU ARE. What most people (individuals who use social media regularly and extensively) is that you are parting with some very vital and sensitive personal information right from the time that you open an account with these social networking sites. It’s pretty standard to give information such as your full name, where you live, what you do, what you like (or dislike), your date of birth. You post pictures of you and your family, your precious possessions, your triumphs, etc. And to top it all, you literally “strive” to keep this information updated every day (and in some cases-every waking moment). You take solace (my view–choose to remain blissfully unaware) in thinking that:
• this information is with the site;
• it’s secure, behind layers of security;
• they have a privacy policy, they can’t share it with any one;
• only my friends and connection can see it;
• It’s harmless banter (yeah!!!, really!!! Do make it a point to tell it to the mob when they come visiting);
• I will delete it after some time But as they say “Ideal and real” are two completely different and mutually exclusive things. Some open secrets that you must know:
Default Settings:
When you sign up, the social networking site sets your privacy controls to “default settings”. I am sure there would be several instances wherein you have accepted the prompt that the settings are at default albeit without really checking or understanding what “default settings” really means. In some cases, default means that everyone can read your post and access all the information that you give the site.
Changes in Privacy Policies
While some people are wise enough to check what the default setting is, they sometimes fail to keep track of changes in the privacy policy of the social networking site. What people do not account for is that Privacy Policies can change. In some cases, these site notify you, but in many cases, by continuing to access the site or using the service you “by default” agree to the revised Privacy Policy. How is that possible you ask, I have a right to be informed, they have to tell me !!!.
Don’t they ?????? All these questions are the types you ask after reality knocks you down. The truth is that, it all boils down to terms and conditions of service, YESSSSS, the one’s where you click “AGREED” without even bothering to read what they say, let alone understanding what the implications are.
Somewhere in the fine print, there are terms which say that “the service provider is at a liberty to alter the terms of Privacy Policy and that it is your obligation to look them up on a regular basis. Further that, if you continue to use the site, it will be presumed that you have read the Privacy Policy and have agreed to the revised terms.
Here is a question for you. Google and Facebook both have revised the terms of the Privacy Policy (mainly their Policy on what data will be collected and how they intend to use it). They were “kind” enough to send a mail/notification about the change and date from when the policy will become effective. How many of you saw this mail in your inbox/notification when you visited the site? More importantly, how many of you made an attempt to see “broadly” what changes are likely to take place. If you haven’t done it as yet, then be rest assured that you will have no one but yourself to blame.
Apps and Games
If you think that you have covered all bases by reading the Privacy Policy and having understood the terms have agreed to it and acted very cautiously, even then one could say you have left yourself exposed. Sure you read the Policy for the hosting site, but what about the apps/ games that are made available on the site? More often that not, if your friend has been using it or recommends it, you too sign up because you want to be with the gang and cannot fall behind. Well, if that is the case, I would say you covered the pin holes, but left the manholes wide open. It is quite possible that these app/ games/utilities may have a policy which is quite different from the hosting site and it might not be very protective.
Difference Between Free and Freemium
Just because the service is free or it doesn’t cost you anything doesn’t mean that there is no cost attached. It only means that the cost of providing service to you is being borne/ subsidised by someone else i.e. what is offered to you for free is sold to someone else for a premium (hence the word freemium). Everybody and I mean everybody (there may be a few exceptions like the Khan Academy) who is providing some free service to you, is selling the data that you generate, in one way or the other, to somebody else. You may not believe it, but every time you say “you like something”, this data is collected, collated and analysed for future sale. Every comment about a product, a service, a brand, etc be it good or bad, is tracked and stored for future sale. Not only this, if you like a brand, there is a very high probability that the very same social networking site (if not this one then some other site also) will help the brand to sell “what you like” to your friends.
Paradox of Social Networking and Privacy:
It’s a paradox because, you are posting your personal and private data on a media whose reason for existence is to promote “openness”. So, on one hand you want the data to be in the public domain and at the same time, you don’t want anyone to see it. Funny isn’t it!!!! Reminds me of the famous quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet “To be or not to be, that is the question”.
While there are several issues that still need to be dealt with, but woh kissa phir kabhie.
The next part of this series will focus on some tips on dos and don’ts while posting on social networking sites.
Disclaimer: The information/issues discussed in the above write-up is based on several news reports, articles, etc., available in the public domain. The purpose of this write- up is not to promote or malign any person or company or entity. The purpose is merely to create awareness and share the knowledge that is already available in the public domain.
