Privacy Issues in Social Networking - Research Paper Example

Privacy Issues in Social Networking Social networking entails a combination of social media like Facebook, WordPress, MySpace and Twitter, allowing users to upload their information onto a public profile, make a directory of online friends, and look through other users’ profiles (Mitrano 1). Social networking is of increasing interest to individuals, public and private sector organizations. While the technology presents exciting opportunities for organizations to interact with clients and individuals to share the information, it also represents an area of risk for exposing sensitive and confidential information (Gross & Acquisti 1). This aspect also renders individuals liable for their usage of the technologies. This paper will discuss the privacy issues in social networking. It is a requirement by most social networking sites that users read and agree to a code of use policy prior to using their services. Controversially, these policies that users have to accept usually contain clauses allowing the social networking operators to store users’ data and even share it with other parties (Randall & Richards 1). The operators hold on to data and make it difficult to delete accounts even after deactivating them while sharing personal information with third parties. Surveys have shown that there are several key privacy risks for social network users, such as total information awareness, broadcasting to wrongdoers and having no control over one’s information related to identity (Gross & Acquisti 1). All social networking sites require and offer varying privacy levels. For example, a site like Facebook encourages the use of real names and personal information like a telephone number, address and birth date while signing up for a new profile. They even get more intimate by asking for relationship status, hobbies religion and sexual preference. Among the sites that encourage disclosure of personal information, a trend has been noticed where most users seem comfortable with disclosing to the public (Gross & Acquisti 1). This information spreads faster via social networking sites than in a real life network. Because the information is in digital format and can easily be copied, stored and searched, it may find its way to groups of people unexpectedly. This is especially harmful to users if the information travels in different spheres, ending up with unintended recipients. Social network sites receive financial enticements from advertisers to generate revenues through the information users submit (Randall & Richards 1). Since the usage of most of the websites is free, the network sites must make up for expenses incurred through generating income from identity-relevant information from users. The most commonly used method to achieve this is by creating users’ marketing profiles and serving them with targeted advertisements (Randall & Richards 1). The more the network sites and their marketing partners acquire users’ information, the more informational disparity arises. Because the users are not able to determine the terms through which their information is disclosed, structural design of control arises, exposing them to harm. The sites maintain users’ digital files that aim to bear the users’ closest resemblance. Some users, often without the profile owners’ consent, contribute to other users’ information by uploading text and photos about them on multiple websites (Randall & Richards 1). The profile owners, therefore, have limited control over their identity-relevant data, including the ability to shape their moral identity. This scenario can be brought about by a friend or relative who uploads seemingly innocent information, but because of the character of the networks, it can be accessed by malicious recipients. It is necessary for users to inform their friends of their intention to upload their information on social networks. The high content of personal information displayed on social networking sites makes it possible to estimates a user’s private data (Lardner 1). This exposes them to identity theft. Their social security numbers can be worked out by fraudsters. They, in turn, will use them to access credit and financial services posing as the real owners. Identity theft goes beyond money when hackers get enough information to access others’ social network accounts. They proceed to vandalize innocent users’ profiles and send defamatory messages to their friends. Users make things easier for identity thieves by providing more than necessary information about themselves to the public (Lardner 1). Another possible risk that users are exposed to is password theft (Mitrano 1). A common mistake committed is the use of the same password on the sites an account holder has. If the password leaks accidentally or is discovered by hackers, it provides an entry into all the other sites operated by the user. For example, hacking a user’s Twitter password may give the key to their online banking account. Users are advised to be creative and not include birthdates, spouses or children’s names in their passwords, as well as use a unique password for every profile they own (Mitrano 1). Social networking sites can track and record the activity of users on both their websites and those of their marketing partners. They are able to gather extraordinary amounts of personal, secondary information on their users, and often even without their informed consent. This is more so with the prevalence of mobile technology. Although users undoubtedly enjoy using these services, they are, however, compromising their privacy (Mitrano 1). As social media moves away from traditional, online technology to location-based mobile devices and services, users get more exposed to privacy concerns. Information about a user’s location, or even current employer, can expose the information that he is away from home, making him more prone to a burglary (Mitrano 1). A state of vulnerability arises when governments collect this information and use it to impose control on citizens. In a study, a Dutch judge determined that the private profile of a social network user is public, arguing that people can easily be added to the friends’ directory (Lardner 1). Studies conducted for the United States government found that it was easy to collect information from public, social networks and link them to existing government databases. With regard to political dissidents, this may occasion the freezing of free speech (Lardner 1). In the absence of guidance on overall legislation and privacy laws, websites are on their own to figure out how to control location-based services. If they expect users’ trust, they need to focus on their privacy and security concerns. When properly used, the services have the potential to promote social media interactivity to new levels. In conclusion, users are encouraged to be in the forefront to protect their own privacy by limiting information submitted to the social networks (Mitrano 1). Respect to information belonging to others is a contributing factor to avoid exposing them. Given the nature of the networks, the less the users expose themselves, the less their information exposes that of their friends (Mitrano 1). Works Cited Gross, R., and Acquisti, A. Information Revelation and Privacy in Online Social Networking Sites (The Facebook Case). < http://www.heinz.cmu.edu/~acquisti/papers/privacy-facebook-gross-acquisti.pdf>, 2005. Web. Lardner, Richard. Your new Facebook friend may be the FBI. , 2010. Web. Mitrano, Tracy. A Wider World: Youth, Privacy, and Social Networking Technologies. , 2006. Web. Randall, D., and Richards, V. , 2011. Web. Read More