"The perils
of over-sharing in social networks" by Emm (2014) is against the
increasing dependency society has on the internet. In the article,
Emm shares about his concerns over "government snooping" which
allows authorities to spy on personal e-mails, text messages etc. He discusses
the impending dangers that an over reliance on social media poses on people.
For example, the jeopardization of our personal lives when confidential details
land in the wrong hands. These information can be manipulated in different ways
such as to find out our bank accounts or our home addresses, putting the safety
of our money and family in danger. The author also believes that the over-sharing
of private information can have adverse effects on companies that users work
for. The authors opinions reflect my own to a certain extent. Like the author,
i believe that the internet is not an entirely safe place for the sharing of personal
details. However with proper safety precautions, it can bring about positive
effects.
The author states that the Internet “exposes the minutiae of our
daily lives”. Putting personal information online such as posting pictures or
tweeting about our current location makes us easy targets to cyber-criminals. A
popular social media platform “AskFm” allows strangers to ask users questions. Increasingly,
anonymous characters have used this medium to convey abusive and sexualized
content to its victims. Askfm has been linked with some of the worse cases of
cyber bullying and has been the reason for several suicide cases. (Younger, 2013) Just as Emm puts it, what is
seemingly harmless can quickly turned into an avenue for crimes to take place.
The author also believes that over-sharing on the Internet can
“jeopardize the security of the organization we work for”. Sharing of
confidential details online can result in rival companies attaining vital
information required to sabotage an organization. In addition to Emms point,
the over-sharing of information on the Internet not only compromises the
security of a company but also it’s reputation. In 2012, director Amy Cheong of
the National trade union congress (NTUC) was fired after posting racist
comments about the traditional Malay wedding on her personal
Facebook account. (Durai, 2012) The incident caused an outrage amongst the
online community. Netizens were upset that NTUC would give authority to someone
who publicly displays racism. NTUC’s Facebook page was bombarded with angry
comments demanding explanations. Needless to say, the incident tarnished NTUC’s
reputation as being a wholesome organization. As such it is clear to say that
over-sharing on the Internet can affect both the security and reputation of the
companies we work for.
Emm also voices his worries over “government snooping” on the
Internet. The ability of institutions and the government to
“intercept emails, text messages etc.” leaves users with barely any
privacy. However "government snooping" does have some positive impact
on society in that it combats terrorism to a certain extent. The
National Security Agency (NSA) gathers phone data and online
communications in order to sieve out potential threats. In
the US alone, The National Security Agency's "controversial
intelligence-gathering programs" have helped to prevent 13 terrorist
attacks from taking place. (Kelly, 2013).
As such, the
internet is most definitely not a safe place to share personal details of our
lives due to the many possible dangers. It does however have its positive
impacts as well such as providing convenience and helping countries to combat
terrorism. Like the author states, safety measures such as being vigilant or
using safety softwares are therefore needed to ensure that users are able to
reap the benefits of the internet without falling victim to cyber crimes.
References:
Durai, J. (2012, October 8). The Straits
Times. Retrieved from
http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/ntuc-assistant-director-sacked-racist-remarks-20121008
Kelly, H. (2013, August). CNN.
Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/31/tech/web/nsa-alexander-black-hat/
Younger, S. (October, 2013). Tweenus. Retrieved from
http://www.chicagonow.com/tween-us/2013/10/facts-about-ask-fm-parents/
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