Privacy is an elaborate concept that cannot easily be defined because it entails many categories such as physical privacy, communication privacy, psychological privacy and informational privacy (Castaldo, Premazzi & Grosso, 2013, p.4). Informational privacy’s correlation to social media is the increasing amount of information available to online marketing companies and the continued “dissemination of personal awareness” users face (Castaldo et al., 2013, p.4). Thus, the power of surveillance is largely due to people not knowing if or when they are being watched. It has been suggested that in using social media, personal privacy is sacrificed because people no longer have control over their intimate information. However, …show more content…
Daniel Trottier’s article “Interpersonal Surveillance on Social Media” states that interpersonal Internet surveillance is a mutual exchange that now requires users to take care of their “virtual self”, or virtual face because users are able to watch other users and can be seen by others without a mutual knowledge of this occurrence (Trottier, 2012, p. 319). Now, “everyday people can search for information about other citizens without their knowledge or permission” (Trottier, 2012, p. 319). Yet, God instructs his people to act with wisdom in every situation. Proverbs 4:6-7 states, “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (New International Version). Therefore, it is imperative that one is fervently aware of the intrusions that can occur online. Internet users must take preventive measures against surveillance and online hackers. Thus, each individual must take the time to set up a computer firewall, antivirus software and security settings for each personal computer, social media site and email subscription they have. Surveillance at this moment in American society is evitable, thus caution in what information one allows to be placed on the World Wide Web is crucial. Lack of online security precautions could very well …show more content…
In the Journal of New Communication Research, Yang Hongwei’s article “Young American Consumers’ Online Privacy Concerns, Trust, Risk, Social Media Use, and Regulatory Support” suggests that one must be aware of the “weak design” most SNS servers have, which is due to that particular social media sites over popularity and “commercial value” leaving easy access to hackers and “cyber predators” who steal user information (Hongwei, 2013, p. 1). “A wise person sees consequences ahead of time and makes a change before he runs into the wall. A foolish person just runs into it” (Corderio, 2007, p. 31). Do not allow oneself to be succumbed to such a personal violation as identity theft. Be precautious of allowing sensitive information to be available online. In the best selling book, Dragnet Nation, A Quest For Privacy, Security, And Freedom In A World Of Relentless Surveillance, Julia Angwin states that, “Complaints of identity theft increased by nearly one-third in 2012—up to 369 million from 279 million a year earlier—according to statistics compiled by the Federal Trade Commission” (Angwin, 2014, p. 12). According Steve Toporoff, the FTC identity protection program coordinator, these rising numbers of credit card theft, medical and tax fraud have steadily increased over the past five years (Angwin, 2014, p. 12). Therefore, it is not only