Privacy, Online & Off

 What if I told you that companies, websites, corporations and even the the government are violating our privacy. The internet is the foundation of our modern society. Its created such an influence on our lifestyles and daily routines that we aren't even fazed about its impact. People are amazed at the suggested topics and websites that seem to directly adhere to what they're looking for but in reality these websites and large companies are collecting, analyzing, and processing all of our information. 

In today's digital world online privacy has become a major concern for me, my friends and my family. We spend so much time online weather it be doing schoolwork or just scrolling that we forget how much personal information we are sharing. If private information is leaked we are more prone to theft, scams, identity fraud, and stalking. As a teenager and college student who grew up with social media and access to the internet this can be very scary if the right precautions aren't taken. Although my generation has a slight advantage knowing that these risks can occur, the older generations are more susceptible to falling victim to this behavior. In addition younger children don't fully understand privacy risks which create safety concerns.    

As privacy becomes a big concern the government plays a large role in protecting individuals and families. With so much of our personal information being collected, stored, and shared, stronger protection needs to be put in place to ensure safety in the digital world. The government should be more open about the information they are using and what they are using it for. Instead of being buried in small print, privacy and information-use policies on social media platforms should be clearly bolded and presented with prominent headings.  

We can protect ourselves from invasions of privacy by being more intentional about what we share online and who has access to our private information. Regularly checking and adjusting privacy settings on social media can limit unnecessary data collection. As well as using strong passwords and enabling two-factor authentication adds extra layers of security. While total privacy isn’t realistic, small habits can be crucial and reduce how much personal data is being collected and used.