This post started out about cell phones. However, when I read a post on BB Geeks regarding social media, I had to make a stand. BB Geeks pan social media privacy, and then question if this means it’s okay to conduct covert surveillance on our spouses, and kids.
The answer is easy: you’d be guilty of spying on your spouse, but not your children if your intention was their protection. Installing mobile software on a child’s phone to ensure their safety, know of there whereabouts, and confirm or deny suspected illegal activity seems reasonable. You’re the one, after all, who pays if your child commits a crime that results in property damage or a civil lawsuit. While morally I don’t tend to agree, I’d rather do something or forever regret doing nothing when my child’s life is on the line.
While the social media and similar companies try to work out online regulations with the Fed, keep in mind that you can drop your social media presence at any time. While weighing your choice, remember that Facebook is, and always has been, a business. There are four basic reasons the site exists:
- Entice people to join and capture their information
- Cross reference this information with their surfing habits
- Sell advertisers this information so they can send you relevant ads
- Make HUGE profits
- Repeat
Facebook’s founders didn’t suddenly wake up one day and decide to start a “friends” site because it gave them satisfaction; they started it to harvest your info. This year, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg plainly stated that he does not believe in online privacy rights. Social media privacy may be a “huge problem” in many worlds, but there are other, extremely serious threats that come first.
Think about your bank card and credit card company; their price for admission was heavy, and includes data that social media sites (and hackers) dream about. Banks–already suffering declining consumer confidence–and credit card companies-charging jobless, and low income citizens outrageous fees and penalties–have more information on us than I care to consider. However, for the sake of this post, think about what the company knows about you, a credit card holder, and the information you willingly gave them (or they already owned):
Seems silly to worry about social media, doesn’t it?
Yet, both pale in comparison to the bad guys who spy using all types of communication platforms; even the ultra-smart geeks who crack site security on a weekly basis are scary–especially due to the numerous attacks on smartphone users in recent months.
Perhaps worse than the geeks: The red curtain of China. If China is able to launch a cyber attack off the coast of China and access sites like Google, Yahoo, MSN, HP, Adobe, and others tech sites, home users don’t stand a chance.
The world has changed, and privacy is fast becoming our responsibility. We either need to face this and figure out how to manage it, or flee, realizing always that the decision is ours to make.
So, don’t get caught up in the SM hype; there are bigger problems out there, like phone and computer hackers, data thieves, stalkers, and, of course, Sleeper spies from Russia. If you have any questions regarding privacy laws, call MSI toll-free at (888) 338-4545 or email us.
