As technology continues to advance, so do peoples’ expectations.
Today our standards for technology are higher than ever. With so many different
personalization options, people now believe that technology should be cooperative.
We expect our websites, our phones, and our computers to remember us and adapt
to us. From being able to change the layouts of websites, to remembering passwords
and other critical information, technology provides each person with a
personalized, unique experience. Personalization has helped technology by
creating greater convenience for its users. People can personalize settings and
layouts that make for a smoother, easier interactive experience. However, how
is this personalization affecting our security and safety?
When we personalize technology, we must understand
the risks we are taking. If I go to a website that asks for my name, my age,
and my gender, I must be aware of the pros and cons for releasing that
information. The website my use that information to match me with different articles
and things I will find interesting, or the website might sell that information to
advertisers. While websites use these personalization tools to create a better
experience for the users, we must be aware of who else is seeing our
information. Today, social media websites have made a lot of money selling the
information of their users. However, many users may not have agreed or wanted
to release that information. How is this fair? When we first posted our
information to things such as Facebook and Twitter, we had no idea the sites
would sell our information and privacy. While the personal information we share
might not be secretive, it is still an invasion of our privacy to sell that
information without us knowing. Websites and other forms of technology should
be required to be transparent with users on the usage of their information. We
should be clearly notified how our information will be used, and updated when
it is sold or exchanged to advertisers or other third-party members.
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ReplyDeleteLoved your response. While I enjoy some personalization factors, to me my personal information is just that personal. I think as we give out more and more of our information the less it becomes our own.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note tangent, why aren't the users paid for their information?!? It seems like, especially when it comes to targeted advertisements, we are giving marketers ammo and money to supply their army of privacy invaders.
I completely agree with you. Today, people consider their phone to be a third arm, and we are constantly looking to personalize ever aspect of technology we use on a daily basis. Even our phone, something only we use on a daily basis, is still connected to the cloud. All our information that is placed on such a personal object, can still be taken from us. When Facebook was becoming popular, and we all had to have a personal Facebook page, I don't think we realized the extent of how large the Internet would grow to be. I agree that we need to be informed or approve of our information being used, but unfortunately I don't see how this can be monitored either.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we are taking risks when providing this information to internet sites. I know that I really enjoy when my computer remembers my passwords and the websites I go to, but it does make me wonder what all my computer knows. I am sure that if someone hacked my computer they would know most everything about me.
ReplyDeleteI agree that as technology advances and become more personalized, we must be more cautious or at least aware of what personal information we give out. Consumers take a risk every time they sign up for a website or shop online. It is key to read the terms and conditions of the website to become knowledgeable about their privacy laws. While this will help with protecting our privacy it will not completely prevent against fraud.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything that you have touched on. We revolve ourselves in the internet and put information out there but like you said we do not agree to have our personal information sold or released to other outlets. We should be notified on how our information is being used and who else is able to see it. I only see it becoming more of an issue in the future as technology and time advances.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the fact that we, as Internet users, should be notified who has access to our personal information we provide. As a whole, I don't think our society is educated about the consequences of freely giving out our information. We don't think about the possible implications, and once we give out our information it is a domino effect; one person sees it, then another one, then another one, and it has the potential to ultimately harm us in the future.
ReplyDeleteThis is very true, I remember years ago when Facebook was just beginning to get popular my teachers explaining how it would eventually get to where it kept dabs on our every move and they were very accurate. A few months ago when facebook messenger came about, I began doing research and it can even use your speaker to see what you are watching or listening to so that advertisements can be more relevant to the individual. I do not necessarily have a problem with it but I do feel that it is very invasive, I like how things are personalized and simplified for us now but at what cost, and how much do they know about us is the question that we have to ask ourselves. I enjoyed your response it was very accurate.
ReplyDeleteYour point that standards of technology really resonates with me. I think many of the struggles users have with technology, websites in this case, are because they do not meet our standards/expectations. Many of us, myself included, want a fun, interactive website that allows us to make it our own (personalization) and websites are attempting to keep up and ahead of the curve and that comes at a cost to our privacy. Since our standards of the internet have increased, business has taken note and raised the stakes of "usership." They expect more profit because we expect more everything as a user.
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