Thursday, March 25, 2010

Privacy and Confidentiality

If you use some form of new media, odds are you don't have much privacy or confidentiality.  I think the minute you sign up for a social networking site, you lose a significant amount of your privacy.  It surprises me how much personal stuff people will write on their Facebook or Twitter pages.  Overall, people who use these sites just have really horrible discretion.  More often than not I read Facebook or Twitter updates that fall into the category of "Too Much Information."  A lot of people think that only other users on Facebook can see their comments, photos, personal info, etc., but the truth is anyone with half a brain and a computer can pretty much find out everything about you.  If you type someone's name in Google, odds are one of the results will be for their Facebook page (unless they have changed their security settings).  

When it comes to privacy in new media, I think it depends on the user.  For example, I have a Facebook, but I don't write a lot of personal information about myself on there.  Even so, if someone wanted to find me, they would be able to find my first and last name on Facebook and also what school I go to since I'm in the CUNY Baruch network.  There are some people who are the opposite and post every little detail about their lives and make the information available to everyone on Facebook.  I think this is dangerous because besides stalkers and people like that there are also employers who check Facebook pages.  A friend of mine who works in the Human Resources department of a company told me that Facebook is the first thing they check when researching a potential employee's background.  That might be something to think about before you post crazy pictures from a drunk night out or write inappropriate wall posts...  
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3 comments:

  1. RuchikMarch 25, 2010 at 11:38 AM

    I believe any social networking site is used as a way to brag about stuff (eg. drunk evening etc.). Employers definitely see this and from the perspective of an employer, it is a good thing. They do not want to hire anyone involved in crazy things, and neither would I want to work with someone who does crazy things. If only there was a way to balance these crazy things...

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  2. Caitlin HannonMarch 28, 2010 at 12:08 AM

    I'm starting to wonder if this will change over time. I mean, I totally agree that people overshare. I avoid anything that could look bad, and adjust security settings anyway so that not many people can see my profile on facebook, for example. But I do wonder if, as time goes on, employers and companies will become more open to these sorts of things. For example, I do know people who share their facebook pages with their bosses, as well as all their drunken behavior. I could NEVER...but some people do it.

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  3. AnonymousApril 23, 2010 at 12:53 PM

    This is such a timely discussion. Today there was a article on the next wave of Social Media, sharing personal information between the media sources (like facebook interacting with gmail). The article can be found at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/technology/23share.html?ref=technology.
    I am scared of this type of interaction, and don't believe I will sign up for those features for awhile (particularly if it require me handing over my password).

    Personally I can't stand when people are so indiscrete with their social media presence, especially people who befriended me only online (what a way to present yourself!).
    Jorge Ruiz

    I am quick to delete people who often write about sex, drug, and alcohol on their media sites. I am no prude, but expect those types of things, if at all needed to be discussed, to be included in a private message.

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