When that information gets posted online,
it is no longer private
, and may end up falling into wrong hands. Even if you have put in place the highest possible security measures, some of your friends, colleagues and companies you interact with on social media, can end up leaking your personal information.
The negative aspects of social media
However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression,
anxiety, loneliness, self-harm
, and even suicidal thoughts. Social media may promote negative experiences such as: Inadequacy about your life or appearance.
When that information gets posted online,
it is no longer private
, and may end up falling into wrong hands. Even if you have put in place the highest possible security measures, some of your friends, colleagues and companies you interact with on social media, can end up leaking your personal information.
Social media privacy helps individuals to mind their businesses without interference from the outside world. Privacy is also important
because it reduces the amount of information we get concerning other people
.
Social media sites have become notorious for tracking online activities of users and harvesting personal information. This is called
data scraping
. This data can be gathered from your social media profiles, as well as other websites and accounts linked to the profile, including job websites, and online forums.
Social Media has many positive effects on education including
better communication, timely information, socializing online, learning, enhancing skills
, making a career among others. But the same has some negative effects which include identity theft, cyber bullying, and social isolation.
Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks, and misuse of information
are some of the threats faced by the users of social media. Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they end up sharing content that should not be in the public eye.
Too much use of social media can have adverse effects on students’ minds, and they may also be
exposed to bad posture, eye strain, and physical and mental stress
.
However, as social media has grown over the years, so has
the risk of data breaches
. As more and more information gets placed online, there is an increased danger of hackers, companies, and malicious interlopers mining your data in ways that undermine personal privacy. And in some cases, your data is outright stolen.
- Hide activity status. On many social apps your friends have the ability see if you’re active, offline, or the last time you were online. …
- Disable read receipts. …
- Stay off-the-grid. …
- Be selective with the audience.
Why is privacy so important?
Privacy is important because:
Privacy gives us the power to choose our thoughts and feelings and who we share them with
. Privacy protects our information we do not want shared publicly (such as health or personal finances). Privacy helps protect our physical safety (if our real time location data is private).
As the researchers from the University of Adelaide and University of Vermont point out, “
There is no place to hide on social networking platforms
.” Your behavior is now predictable from the social media data of just 8-9 of your friends.
If the online social network you use is such an organisation, then
the personal information you share on it is protected by the Privacy Act
. Such organisations include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and LinkedIn. … This means you generally can’t enforce a privacy right against an individual.
The definition of online privacy is the level of
privacy protection an individual has while connected to the Internet
. It covers the amount of online security available for personal and financial data, communications, and preferences.
- cyberbullying (bullying using digital technology)
- invasion of privacy.
- identity theft.
- your child seeing offensive images and messages.
- the presence of strangers who may be there to ‘groom’ other members.
Apparently, fame on social media has a considerable influence on how a person perceives their status in real life as well. The matter of fame
has been proven to have an effect on people’s lives since
the existence of civil society. … By being called “social,” the media have a noticeable effect on socializing.