Everyone has somethings they choose to keep private. Whether it's a journal, diary, or maybe a shoebox with some pictures in it.
Philosophically thinking, however, what does one mean to be private? When someone wishes to be private it means, to which one within themselves there is something considered inherently special, personal, or sensitive.
The word "private" has so many different meanings, its difficult to really summarize it into a specific definition. You can't term the word private unless you include the word "Public." The word private to me means to an extent of which someone, or something, is secluded and general or specific information is kept away from outsiders and trespassers.
The word "private" has so many different meanings, its difficult to really summarize it into a specific definition. You can't term the word private unless you include the word "Public." The word private to me means to an extent of which someone, or something, is secluded and general or specific information is kept away from outsiders and trespassers.
A scenario, which I can recall, which invaded my privacy was back when I was a freshman. Young and stupid I was still experimenting with Myspace.com and other Social Networking sites. I posted some really goofy pictures of myself (with no shirt on) and though it would bring attention to my profile. Sure enough...it did and it wasn't the attention that I hoped to get. After that day I took the pictures down and set my profile to "friends only." Sometime later on I receive a post from one of my friends that had my picture, which I have taken down, weeks back, in his grasp! He posted the picture on my comments, and repeated it so if filled the whole web page! I was so pissed that people could actually take someones picture and manipulate it into , then re-post it however they please. I was really embarrassing because I knew, their must have been more people to have access to the pictures.
From then on, I make sure I know what I put on Myspace.com, Facebook.com, Youtube.com, and Photobucket.com so people can't hack in, copy or steal my stuff, and manipulate as they wish.
It terrifies me to know, the pictures or videos you post, become property of the website. Thinking logically its like selling yourself, FOR FREE, so these large corporations. These corporations can change you picture, as they please, to promote their website. In worse case scenarios some large companies may sell some pictures, to industries, that promote Pornography, STD/ STI awareness, Tobacco promotions, and other advertisements. It might be rare, but when you decide to search yourself and discover someone who resembles a familiar face. You may start to recognize a specific bodily features like birthmark, scare, or tattoo! If that day every does come and you stumble across on a pornography website with your picture on it... it may get just a little embarrassing. =(
When I read the Wikipedia.com blog about "Sorveillance" I was baffled to believe people actually walk around with mini cameras and record their activities throughout the day. It reminded me of the show on MTV called "Fear" were people would go to these haunted places and wear these huge cameras, which would face them, and record their facial reactions.
It does sound fascinating, considering you get to see what others are watching from somewhere else. You can mount these little mini cameras anywhere, and just go! It's very much invading, if one were to consider others privacy. There are people in this world that wish to not be on camera and will press charges if they are captured on film--believe me I know the routine. In United States, audio sorveillance is allowed in most states, and by U.S. Federal law, and this allowance for recording by at least one party is also true in most other countries (Wikipedia). In believing these kids and teenagers who are running around with small cameras (even cameras on their phones), do NOT have a "release warrant" is considered under penalty of law an invasion of one's privacy. On the bright side of the spectrum, someone may consider this somewhat new form of technical Media a live documentary reality show. Maybe this is the new direction of new reality TV?
As I continued to read the "Wiki Blog" I came across a statement, which really caught my eye--especially with the First Debate on Friday September 26th, 2008. Sousveillance of a state, by its citizens, has been credited with addressing many problems such as election fraud or electoral misdeeds, as well as providing good governance. This promotes people's security and insure fraud will be at a low.
I am not certain, which side to favor, on if this little portable camera. Even now cameras are being placed all around cities and highways contributing to "The Big Brother System." Whether we choose to accept it in society or not, it doesn't seem like this little gadget is going to be modified and NOT taken off the market anytime soon.
The dangers of Internet privacy can happen to anyone, however, its the younger generation who is largely at risk. I believe, children and pre-teens must be educated about the potential risks of uploading photos and bits of information on the Internet. They don't realize how many people their are in this world, who have access to the Internet, and love searching about people.
It is a little humorous to me, considering the situation of researching people. What was once, and still is considered at negative word, "stalking," has become a slang term on Facebook.com, which actually means searching someone out. Even people who are the best of friends search through each others profiles to look and see if something has changed with their life. To me Facebook.com is like keeping all your friends in a nice organized binder with information, photos, and resources, to which you might need to know about them. It's almost like a game of flash cards to some extent--reviewing faces and information about a certain person. Some people become so obsessed with Facebook.com when someone sees a "pop-up" in the information column--which is like late breaking news; people automatically assume someone has changed something in their life.
If I could support my topic with a research hypothesis... "More and more today people are becoming obsessed with reality shows and real life situations about other people lives. If people love to listen to gossip and drama, about other people's life, has this become an addicting manner to satisfy one's cravings to benefit their life? In terms of Internet use, does this easy accessible information make it more desirable to satisfy one's need for outside dramatic information?" If my hypothesis is along the line of correct, then what does this mean for the future privacy of our social identity?
- Boyd, Danah. 2007. “Social Network Sites: Public, Private, or What?”
Knowledge Tree 13, May. (Sourced September 25th, 2008) http://kt.flexiblelearning.net.au/tkt2007/?page_id=28
- Wikipedia "Internet Privacy" (Sourced September 25th, 2008) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_privacy
- Wikipedia 'Sousvillance" (Sourced September 25th, 2008) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sousveillance
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