Having social media at our fingers and connection at our fingertips, there are many subtle and dangerous threats to our privacy in this day and age. Data breaches, which occur when private information gets into the wrong hands, are one of the most common threats. Consider the 2018 Facebook data breach, which compromised the personal information of over 50 million users and made it available to hackers. In addition to jeopardising users' privacy, this hack brought up grave questions regarding the safety of private data on social networking sites.
In the digital era, stalking and surveillance have grown alarmingly commonplace, with social media giving potential stalkers plenty of tools to follow their victims everywhere. Take the example of a lady who, despite her best efforts to block him, was being stalked by her ex-partner, who was using social media to keep tabs on her whereabouts. People can easily become targets of surveillance and stalking due to the ease with which personal information can be acquired and misused on social media. On social media platforms, cyberbullying and public humiliation have become commonplace, with disastrous results for the mental health and general well-being of victims. Consider the instance of a teenage girl who was the victim of constant cyberbullying after an incriminating picture of her was shared on social media without the girl's permission. She was driven to the verge of despair by the deluge of cruel messages and comments she received, underscoring the significant negative effects of online harassment on people's lives.
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The exploitation of users' data by firms for targeted advertising and other uses without their agreement is a widespread problem in the social media industry. Take the Cambridge Analytica debacle, for example, when millions of Facebook users' personal information was collected and utilised, without their knowledge, to influence political campaigns. This flagrant disrespect for users' right to privacy emphasises how social media firms need to be held to higher standards of responsibility and openness. The phenomenon of "creepshots," in which people secretly photograph and post pictures of strangers in public spaces without their knowledge, is a prime example of how social media has invaded people's personal space. The subjects' privacy and autonomy are violated when these images are shared without their permission. There have been reports of creepshots in a number of different parts of the world, demonstrating how widespread this intrusive activity is.
In the age of social media, when gossip and incorrect information may travel quickly and permanently destroy people's reputations, reputation damage is a constant worry. Consider the scenario of a professional athlete who became entangled in a scandal following the widespread social media spread of a fictitious film that appeared to depict him participating in illicit activities. Even when it was discovered that the video was fake, the harm to his reputation had already occurred, demonstrating how social media can influence public opinion.
The issue known as "doxing," in which people's personal information is posted online without their permission, is a prime example of the lack of control over social media material. This behaviour may have detrimental effects that range from bodily injury to identity theft. Think about the instance of a writer who, upon penning an article critiquing a contentious public figure, came under attack by internet trolling groups. Her home address and phone number were posted online by the trolls, which sparked a flurry of harassing and threatening messages.
In the world of social media, where concerns about corporate responsibility, free expression, and privacy collide, there are many legal and ethical difficulties. For instance, there are ramifications for online discourse and responsibility going forward from the continuing discussion about whether social media companies should be held accountable for the information that their users upload. In the era of big data and digital monitoring, permission and data ownership issues also present significant ethical challenges. Oversharing on social media has become commonplace, desensitising many users to the value of privacy and fostering a culture of self-disclosure and self-surveillance. Take into consideration the pervasiveness of "selfie culture," in which people feel obligated to capture every moment of their life and share it with the world. A vicious cycle of voyeurism and exhibitionism that threatens the foundation of society is perpetuated by this unrelenting want of attention and affirmation at the price of individual liberty and privacy.
The happy event of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's son's birth was quickly overshadowed by a surge of impersonation and fraudulent activities on social media. Soon after the announcement, a plethora of phoney Instagram accounts surfaced, purporting to be connected to either the well-known couple or their infant kid. These accounts frequently made an effort to trick gullible fans by sharing false information or requesting private information, taking advantage of the hype around the story for evil intent. The event brought to light the inherent hazards of sharing life events on social media, where privacy may be readily breached by bad actors looking to take advantage of public interest for their own gain. This is true even when attempts have been made to report and delete these phoney pages.
Let's move on to the hypothetical case of a well-known actress who is renowned for her gorgeous appearance and her experience with scrutiny and rumours that her aspirations to establish a family are the reason for her weight gain. Let's say this actress, who has been in the spotlight for years, decides to suddenly become public with a little bit more body. On social media and in tabloid publications, rumours and speculations start to circulate. Some sources claim that her weight increase suggests she could be getting ready to conceive a kid. The actress is subjected to intense media scrutiny and public conjecture as a result of the rumours. She makes an effort to keep her personal life private, but the constant scrutiny of the public makes her feel exposed and vulnerable. Intimidating questions from journalists during interviews, obtrusive paparazzi techniques, and unrelenting criticism on social media sites might all be directed against the actress. The actress struggles with body shaming and criticism from both critics and fans, which makes the pressure to meet unattainable beauty standards worse. She could decide to explicitly address the rumours, stressing the value of protecting her privacy and the rudeness of such invasive questions, in an effort to take back control of her story. Her remarks, nevertheless, can unintentionally encourage more rumours as followers and media sources analyse each word in search of hints or hidden meanings regarding her personal life. The actress, in spite of her best attempts to keep a low profile and set limits, gets caught up in a web of rumours and public scrutiny that might jeopardise both her career success and personal happiness. In the end, these occurrences highlight the dangers of privacy in the social media age, where even the most private details of celebrities' lives are open to public interest and conjecture. It gets harder to retain privacy and autonomy in the face of incessant scrutiny and intrusive questions as people struggle with the continual pressure to maintain a manicured online presence.
To sum up, privacy risks in the social media age are numerous and extensive, impacting people's lives in significant and frequently unanticipated ways. The dangers associated with online interactions are all too real, ranging from data breaches to stalking and surveillance, public humiliation to reputational harm. It is more crucial than ever to be alert and aware of the effects of our digital behaviour as we traverse this brave new world, lest we compromise our privacy and independence on the altar of social media.
(The author is a research scholar. All views and opinions expressed in the article are the author's own)
