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What is Privacy?

Privacy in the age of technology has been redefined and we no longer have the same privacy our grandparents grew up with. Instead, each and everyone one of us has to come to terms with being monitored and having data collected on them. What really creates a problem in my mind is that some people are unaware, specifically on social media.

Not everyone is fully aware of what it means to be on social media when they sign up, especially minors. Just by creating profiles and being on the Internet, they subject themselves to data mining and collecting they are unaware they've signed off on. It's a scary thought that before the age of 18, someone can have a well established online presence and have created a large digital footprint without ever being aware of the possible repercussions or who is listening in.

Everyday average citizens remain unaware as well. From the license plate scanners that police use to the data mining on all sorts of Internet sites, privacy is an illusion. We, specifically as Americans, have very little control over what the government knows about us or can know about us. In terms of social media, however, there are a few things we can do.

Adjusting our privacy settings to the public is really one of our only easier options. Making sure that the general public can't view our private information is important. It's also important that we keep up our social media profiles as long as they are active to ensure we control the narrative.

Privacy is a thing we now have to put in more effort than ever to maintain. We must be aware of the risks and make ourselves knowledgable. The world is changing quickly with the continuous development of technology. Whether that's a good or bad thing is up to you to decide.

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