The Privacy Irony

As humans, we want our privacy. It is in our nature. No one wants people to know everything they do. We demand privacy from a multitude of companies ranging from healthcare providers to financial institutions to legal institutions, and, last but not least, social media sites. That's right, we voluntarily post stuff on the web for others to see, knowing that stuff "never disappears from the web," yet we demand privacy. Ironic? Yes! We are all guilty; no one wants creepy people seeing their information and photos, myself included. So why do we post them? Our desire for connecting with others clashes with our desire for privacy. Many people are willing to put their privacy on the line to connect with others. Kind of crazy. Just connect with them in person!

A recent discussion in a financial course brought to my attention that creditors, although subject to many privacy laws, can actually friend you on Facebook and see your activity. So, hypothetically, you add this random person who sends you a "friend request" even though you don't really know them. They see you just bought a new car from a picture with the caption "MY NEW CAR!!" Surprise! It's your creditor you've been trying to avoid... and although they cannot legally call you out on the site about your financial obligations, they know what alley to take to get their money (aka, your new car). Crazy, right? Not really, you allowed them to be your friend and see your activity. In reality, they probably wouldn't even have to friend you because it is likely you aren't aware of your privacy settings and rights and who on the site can see what information you have posted whether they are your friend or not.

To summarize: go check your privacy settings! Read the policies and be informed. Watch what you post and who you connect with...or simply remain socially abstinent!

http://lasvegassun.tumblr.com/page/4