User Privacy Meets Common Sense
User Privacy Meets Common Sense
Traci Heether-Meekma
ENG122
Jessica Harnisch
April 1, 2013
User Privacy Meets Common Sense
Social network (SN) site users seem to be unaware that they are, in part, responsible for their own privacy on these sites, or simply have no concern about that privacy. They are therefore shocked when their privacy is invaded. Users today DO trade some privacy for the convenient communication available on the Social Network sites. These sites DO NOT offer privacy to their users, unfortunately, they merely offer policies and settings that the user is responsible for finding and handling. Seeking out and reading the privacy policy, using the privacy settings, taking care when sharing photos, personal views, and what comments are made, the concerned user could retrieve some of the privacy they feel they have lost.
Although today’s social networking site user claims a loss of privacy, applying common sense where the whole world is watching can help users maintain that privacy.
Social network users claim a loss of privacy. Privacy is not something that any social network user should expect as they themselves should be protecting anything they intend to keep private. Their claim may be supported by reports about internet privacy and/or the loss of said privacy. “In recent months, the issue of privacy on social networking sites has come to the forefront as a result of the media controversy surrounding the social networking site Facebook.” (O’Brien, D. & Torres, A. M., 2012). Users show a growing fear of a lack of privacy online, and though there should be concern, the media seems to feed their fear. There are always internet myths, news stories, and plain rumors of privacy loss; many of these are convincing and easily believed by today’s user.
Seeking out and reading a privacy policy is easier said than done. Privacy policies are often complicated, long reading. Many users will bypass this policy altogether to get on with the
Traci Heether-Meekma
ENG122
Jessica Harnisch
April 1, 2013
User Privacy Meets Common Sense
Social network (SN) site users seem to be unaware that they are, in part, responsible for their own privacy on these sites, or simply have no concern about that privacy. They are therefore shocked when their privacy is invaded. Users today DO trade some privacy for the convenient communication available on the Social Network sites. These sites DO NOT offer privacy to their users, unfortunately, they merely offer policies and settings that the user is responsible for finding and handling. Seeking out and reading the privacy policy, using the privacy settings, taking care when sharing photos, personal views, and what comments are made, the concerned user could retrieve some of the privacy they feel they have lost.
Although today’s social networking site user claims a loss of privacy, applying common sense where the whole world is watching can help users maintain that privacy.
Social network users claim a loss of privacy. Privacy is not something that any social network user should expect as they themselves should be protecting anything they intend to keep private. Their claim may be supported by reports about internet privacy and/or the loss of said privacy. “In recent months, the issue of privacy on social networking sites has come to the forefront as a result of the media controversy surrounding the social networking site Facebook.” (O’Brien, D. & Torres, A. M., 2012). Users show a growing fear of a lack of privacy online, and though there should be concern, the media seems to feed their fear. There are always internet myths, news stories, and plain rumors of privacy loss; many of these are convincing and easily believed by today’s user.
Seeking out and reading a privacy policy is easier said than done. Privacy policies are often complicated, long reading. Many users will bypass this policy altogether to get on with the
References: O’Brien, D. & Torres, A. M. (2012). Social Networking and Online Privacy: Facebook Users’ Perceptions OKUR, M. (2011). PRIVACY PROTECTION PROBLEMS IN SOCIAL NETWRORKS. Journal of Yasar University, 6(22), 3693-3698. Sebastian, A. (2012). Symantec accused of malware scare tactics to sell its security. ExtemeTech.com, n/a Timm, D. M. & Duven, C. J. (2008) a & b. Privacy and social networking sites. New Directions for Student Services, (124), 89-101. doi:10.1002/ss.297.