Web Users Get As Much As They Give By Jim Harper Analysis

These days, the internet has become the center of livelihood for countless people around the world. As we continue down this path of interconnectivity throughout our businesses, educational institutions, and home life, we are leaving trails of information wherever the internet superhighway takes us. That trail of information, or web cookie, is utilized by companies to help track usage in an attempt to tailor your visits to their webpages. With those crumbs of information being stored, privacy ultimately becomes a concern but is often an afterthought. What are these companies discovering about us and what other entity could be applying this data toward less-than-noble causes? How does one react to the possibility of having one’s personally identifiable information stolen? I analyzed two
He starts the essay by explaining rather than overreacting about their data being passed around the web, they "should get smart and learn how to control personal information," instead of insisting that this collecting of information be stopped altogether (535). He also points out that websites and advertising companies use these cookies to personalize your web experience, which makes the life of the user easier. He provides a concession to this point by citing the dangers of "'surreptitious' use of cookies," before going into a long rebuttal (536). Harper delivers some interesting points on why cookies are necessary for the web user. His essay is well supported with multiple relatable and identifiable examples, one even from his own experience. He concludes his article declaring that cookie controls will be more easily attainable and abundant in the future, but "the conversation should continue," suggesting that even with privacy filters, users must continue to provide information to keep the internet free and enjoyable