New communicating technologies have made the transmission, collection and sharing of data more accessible across the Internet. Since the creation of Web 2.0 and User Generated Content, Internet privacy has become a controversial issue. With the growing number of users on social networking sites, the relationship between personal privacy and public security is often blurred. This essay will argue that Internet privacy has become such a debatable issue for Internet users due to the potential detrimental effect it can have on a persons’ relationships, workplace, identity and security. This essay will be in reference to the social networking site Facebook. Firstly, we will discuss the use of Web 2.0 and User Generated Content and how this can have an impact on relationships. Secondly, we will analyse the monitoring of social networking sites by employers and the risks involved for future and present employees. Thirdly, we will discuss the security risk by providing personal information on social networking sites. This essay will draw from scholarly articles by the Telecommunication Journal of Australia, the Law Society Journal as well as Facebook’s privacy policy page and other Internet sites.
The creation of Web 2.0 sparked an international interest in the sharing, uploading and distribution of content (Treese, 2006: 15). This is known as User Generated Content (UGC), which allows end users to publicise their thoughts, creations and ideas online (Treese, 2006: 16). We see this in the form of social networking sites, blogging, chat rooms, discussion boards, maps systems and more. Facebook has become a popular site for sharing content amongst people who live, work and study around them.
Although social networking sites create a new sense of community (Foster et al, 2010: 5) through public discussion, posting photos and sharing ideas, it has the potential to have a detrimental impact on people’s relationships (Grimmelman, 2009: 1174). An extreme example was in 2008, when a man from the UK was jailed after murdering his ex-wife for changing her relationship status on Facebook from married to single (Grimmelman, 2009: 1174). Although it is important to note it wasn’t the end of the relationship that sparked his rage, as he moved out four days prior. Instead it was the publicising of private relationship to a public audience (Grimmelman, 2009: 1174).
Consider the application tagging on Facebook. This enables you to tag your friends, or anyone’s name as a label for the person or object in a picture. After the user posts the content, the individuals in the photo may chose to un-tag themselves if they look or feel like they’re acting inappropriately (Grimmelman, 2009: 1171). However, it is up to the user who posted the content to do what they like with it. Imagine the sort of repercussions if someone were secretly gay, in a relationship or didn’t want someone to know about their friendship? Facebook, like other social networking sites has an impact on relationships, which makes privacy of such a high concern to Internet users.
Consider the application tagging on Facebook. This enables you to tag your friends, or anyone’s name as a label for the person or object in a picture. After the user posts the content, the individuals in the photo may chose to un-tag themselves if they look or feel like they’re acting inappropriately (Grimmelman, 2009: 1171). However, it is up to the user who posted the content to do what they like with it. Imagine the sort of repercussions if someone were secretly gay, in a relationship or didn’t want someone to know about their friendship? Facebook, like other social networking sites has an impact on relationships, which makes privacy of such a high concern to Internet users.
With the development of Web 2.0 services, employers are becoming increasingly aware of social media available for recruiting and monitoring employees (Sprague, 2007: 20). Social networking has become an important business tool of the twenty first century for communication between colleagues and clients all over the world (Bennett et al, 2009: 140). Nardi et al (2002) stress the important role employees’ social networks play in the workplace, with the maintenance of those networks becoming vital to businesses that rely on team and project related work. Whether for team building, colleague to client communication or PR or marketing purposes, social networking has an important role in the workplace (Bennett et al, 2009:140).
However, there is increasing controversy over employees posting too much information online, resulting in a loss of employment or instability for future employment (Sprague, 2007: 20). A Computer World article, “One in five employers use Facebook”, revealed alarming statistics of employers’ use of social networking. The study conducted by Careerbuilder surveyed over 31 000 employers and found one third of candidates were not hired due to unprofessional content displayed on social media. Further research suggested 45 percent of employers use social media for screening job applicants. Most employers did not tolerate any illicit behaviour involving posts of alcohol or drugs, remarks about their current employers or unprofessional conduct. An article, ‘Facebook entry gets officer fired’ found a UK employee sacked after posting ‘my job is boring’ on her Facebook page. Her employer, Ivell Marketing and Logistics terminated her employment following her comments on Facebook, stating she was obviously not happy there and didn’t enjoy her work. There are obvious issues with social networking and privacy in the workplace. Individuals have to be extremely careful with the content they put on these sites (Susskind, 2008: 24), as it can have a long lasting effect on current or future employment.
However, there is increasing controversy over employees posting too much information online, resulting in a loss of employment or instability for future employment (Sprague, 2007: 20). A Computer World article, “One in five employers use Facebook”, revealed alarming statistics of employers’ use of social networking. The study conducted by Careerbuilder surveyed over 31 000 employers and found one third of candidates were not hired due to unprofessional content displayed on social media. Further research suggested 45 percent of employers use social media for screening job applicants. Most employers did not tolerate any illicit behaviour involving posts of alcohol or drugs, remarks about their current employers or unprofessional conduct. An article, ‘Facebook entry gets officer fired’ found a UK employee sacked after posting ‘my job is boring’ on her Facebook page. Her employer, Ivell Marketing and Logistics terminated her employment following her comments on Facebook, stating she was obviously not happy there and didn’t enjoy her work. There are obvious issues with social networking and privacy in the workplace. Individuals have to be extremely careful with the content they put on these sites (Susskind, 2008: 24), as it can have a long lasting effect on current or future employment.
Internet users are becoming increasingly aware of what information they contribute and upload online, however there is still a majority who don’t know the consequences of their actions (Susskind, 2008: 24). A publication in the Law Society Journal (2008) revealed people were more willing to reveal personal information on the Internet than in the public arena. Although, despite this illusion of privacy, information placed on social networking sites is more permanent and potentially harmful than screaming something out in the street (Susskind, 2008: 25). Most users were unaware that deleted files are stored and recovered easily (Susskind, 2008: 25). Facebook’s privacy policy has limitations on the removal of data once it has been posted. Even if an account has been deleted the information is not lost and could appear on other users pages or third parties. Information such as browser type, IP address, location, pages your visit as well as any content posted online. The European Network Security and Information Agency identified some key risks of using social networking and UGC sites (Susskind, 2008: 24). Of these were identity theft, target ‘phishing’ (criminal activity for posing as well known brands to retrieve personal information from users such as account details) and threats of viruses, spyware and spam (Susskind, 2008: 24). The effects Internet privacy can have on users is ongoing, which contributes to it being such a contentious issue for Internet users.
With the introduction of Web 2.0 and social networking sites, Internet users are at a higher risk of privacy invasion. We’ve identified the risks of Internet privacy on social networking sites can be detrimental to relationships, employment and security. Relationships can cease to exist, current and future employers can monitor your online profiles and there are risks of identity theft, phishing and viruses and scams. From here, the control lies in the hands of the user, knowing that any content put up on social networking sites doesn’t disappear. There is no solution to why privacy is such a contentious issue, however there are measures individuals can take to ensure their safety is not comprised. The important thing to note is that we are control of what we put online and although it may seem like there are walls guarding are information, the walls of the Internet are endless.
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