In her BBC interview, Boyd touched on the paradox of our existence online. We produce heaps of information that stays visible or searchable. Longevity is an unavoidable certainty (nothing ever dies on the internet). Everyone has a repository of information published on the web. One’s absence might seem more suspicious than any compromising information that could surface. So, in an attempt to strike back, we try to create a certain amount of transparency in our online profiles. We can be mindful of our tracks and self-presentation. We can also demand a more responsible system.
How do we incorporate technologies into the balance of our lives? They obviously have benefits, but we see their limitations and potential threats. We are sensitive to some of the recurring issues: privacy, presentation, engagement, and responsibility. The studies we have read over the semester spanned years of research, reflective of generations of thought condensed into a short time. The more recent studies have shown the increasing acceptance and adoption of technologies by a growing population. This week’s readings focused on cell phones, Facebook, and commentary on the role of technology in our lives. The Smith reading emphasized our increasing adoption of tools. As we familiarize ourselves with this technology and begin to trust the technology, we become immersed in the relationship. Older users were typified as being concerned about privacy, while younger users were concerned about their social role. Younger and more savvy users recognized some risk, and took steps to manage their settings and presentation (Boyd & Hargiatti).
Older generations of adults saw the privacy risk as physical and psychological vulnerabilities. Their fears were technology’s intrusion on their well-being established in the real world. We might demand stricter guidelines for security. Possibly some type of certification will emerge to establish a sense of trust. (Since each site is different, there is no uniform security. A certification could make this more plausible. Sort of like good-will forces of the internet.
The biggest risk for our truly important private information will require stronger security. I think the future will hold something we see in our Science Fiction movies – of bio-identifiers: fingerprints, eye-scanners, and voice-activation, in combination with passwords, instead of archaic modes of identification like SSN #s, address, email, etc. That would stave off the physical threat of identity theft… for a while.
We have to become more educated in our mediated lifestyles, but bigger organizations should be held accountable for their ethically questionable practices. It would really help if companies were banned from buying and selling all the information to better manipulate us. I understand the opportunities that Big Data provides for targeted advertising, but I don’t think we should all submit to this, especially when we are coerced into accepting the inexorable structure.
We need to support more conscious designers, discourage corrupt practices, and generate more trust. These are perpetual issues of society, but just as relevant in our online social behavior. There is so much hope and potential for our elevated communication practices, we need to adapt our structures to be more permissive of such freedom.
You are right, there is much hope and potential for our elevated communication practices. I think people are learning more about technology as a whole. The research and all the information being put out there is really going to make an impact on our new way of communication.
You bring up a good point about accountability on the part of organizations purchasing and collecting our information. One of my concerns with the next 5-20 years not mentioned in my blog is the lack of suitable laws we have to deal with such issues. It’s also been commented that although law enforcement is aware of the gap in appropriate laws, the law moves slowly while the technology does not.
I agree that the system needs to be restructured in order to allow communication and the internet to flourish and grow freely. The growth is being stunted by the corrupt practices and mistrust. As we work towards lessening these practices, we will all be happier and communicate more effectively.
I agree that the users age has a lot to do with what type of information is posted out there in cyberspace. My father in law is in his mid 50’s and he said that he doesn’t post a lot to his Facebook because he doesn’t want people to know what he is doing all the time. I blame the expansion of cellphones, smart phones, iphones for the youth being vulnerable to posting TMI.
It does really bother me that social media sells so much of our information. The other day, I was just trying to enable Twitter to post to my Facebook, and it made me give access to all of my contact info, photos, friends, and a lot more. There is no reason that Twitter needs that information just to push my tweets to Facebook. I really don’t think anything we put online is really private, and even if our Snapchats are deleted in 10 seconds, someone out there in the universe has a whole archive of them.
It’s relieving to know that a few young people in today’s world still manage to keep some personal facts about themselves off of their webpage. This prevents potential identity thieves from completely ruining their lives or those of people the young individuals may know. If other people follow these examples, then hopefully, less innocent people will get hurt through the use of the internet. Both older generations and young ones are at risk of identity theft and other web-based consequences. However, most people ignore this threat and do whatever they want.
The issue of these corporations selling our information these days is a hot topic. There’s an enormous amount of discussion taking place about it. But, I wonder if we as millennials will ever reach the point where we are truly fed up with it. We talk as if this sort of behavior among social media companies bothers us, yet many of us still use them on a daily basis, including myself.
I agree that the older generation is a little bit skeptical over all the new technology. I couldn’t see my grandmother with an iPhone. She would be so confused. She just has a basic cell phone she can make calls on in case she breaks down in her car or any other emergency. The younger generation is more apt to just adapt to the new technologies. I remember when I was a kid, we didn’t have cell phones. We had to play outside. We weren’t like the kids today that get their first iPhone at 9 years old. I think it is kind of ridiculous.