Social media platforms offer undeniable convenience and connection with others, but at what cost to our privacy? As we increasingly rely on these apps and websites, concerns about tracking and data collection have grown exponentially. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms have amassed vast amounts of user data, and this has raised a number of troubling questions about how this information is being used. As a result, data breaches, hacking, and cyberstalking have come to life, posing a significant risk to our security.
The collection of user data on social media platforms happens in a multitude of ways, including cookies, device information, and IP addresses. According to research on SeedScientific, by 2025, the amount of data generated each day is expected to reach 463 exabytes globally. Additionally, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon store at least 1,200 petabytes of information.
This massive amount of data is then used for targeted advertising and increasingly, for political campaigns. In fact, Andrew Bosworth – a Facebook executive – claimed the company was “responsible” for Donald Trump being elected as US president.
It was published in BBC that Mr. Bosworth said Mr. Trump was elected not because of “misinformation”, but “because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I’ve ever seen from any advertiser. Period”.
Perhaps even more concerning is the issue of micro-targeting, which involves using collected data to serve specific ads to specific groups of people. This technique can be used for nefarious purposes, such as spreading hate speech, propaganda, and false news stories. Facebook is the primary source of news for around half of the population, it has contributed to the spread of misinformation and the fueling of conflict. One such instance was when Facebook’s targeted advertising had devastating consequences globally, particularly in Myanmar. In 2018, UN investigators stated that Facebook played a significant role in the violence that forced almost 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee and resulted in the deaths of over 6,700 individuals within a month.
Read more: What is internet privacy and why does it matter so much in 2023?
Another issue that’s come up recently is the fact that data collection on social media platforms is often hidden from users. In many cases, it’s buried deep within long, complex terms of service agreements. According to Pew Research Center, just 9% of adults say they always read a company’s privacy policy before agreeing to the terms and conditions, while an additional 13% say they do this often. Additionally, 38% of Americans say they sometimes read these policies. There is also a segment of the population who forgo reading these policies altogether. In fact, more than a third of adults (36%) say they never read a privacy policy before agreeing to it.
Risk and implications of tracking
In our modern digital era, a vast amount of information is readily available at our fingertips. Personal tracking has emerged as a prominent advancement, allowing us to monitor various aspects of our lives, such as steps taken, sleep patterns, heart rate, and even location. While the convenience and health benefits are apparent, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the potential risks and implications associated with such tracking.
Are there hidden consequences we should be aware of?
1. Protecting your identity
Using social media means that we are continually sharing personal information about ourselves. Pictures, political opinions, our location, and our work history are all potentially exposed to anyone who has access to our online profiles. According to Statista, in 2022, the number of data compromises in the United States stood at 1,802 cases. Meanwhile, over 422 million individuals were affected in the same year by data compromises, including data breaches, leakage, and exposure. While these are three different events, they have one thing in common. As a result of all three incidents, the sensitive data is accessed by an unauthorized threat actor.
2. Stalking and harassment
Social media sites are an ideal platform for cyberstalking and harassment. With sensitive information at their disposal, malicious people can create fake profiles to harass and stalk others. Quantifying the prevalence of cyberstalking can be difficult, as many incidents go unreported. According to a Statista survey conducted in 2021, approximately 11% of US adults have experienced cyberstalking at some point.
3. Identity theft
Identity theft issues have been a common concern for several years and its frequency has sky-rocketed in the past few years. So much so that the market for identity theft protection services is expected to reach $28 billion by 2029, as per research in Identity Theft org. Social media privacy settings can protect you from fraud, as you can limit the amount of information that you share online. One game-changing tool that can come in handy in such a scenario is PurePrivacy, which helps protect your identity from unauthorized access.
Read more: Top 6 Social Media Privacy issues & how to protect yourself from them
Best practices for maintaining social media privacy
Privacy is something that can’t be taken for granted. As we spend more time online, we need to be more mindful of how we share our personal and professional information on social media. Following are some best practices that we recommend to steer clear of any threats and enjoy social media in full form.
1. Update your privacy settings regularly
Social media giants like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn provide users with a set of privacy settings to help them control who can see their profile, posts, and personal information. However, these settings constantly change and are updated. Make it a habit to check and update your Privacy Settings regularly. This will help you keep up with the new changes and make sure that your personal information is being shared only with those you want to share it with.
2. Be mindful of what you share
One of the easiest steps you can take to protect your privacy is to be mindful of what you share on social media. Before you post anything, ask yourself if it’s appropriate for the public to know.
Consider this scenario: you come across a nostalgic post reminiscing about your elementary school days, which may appear as a heartfelt tribute. However, unknowingly, if the name of your school serves as a security question for any of your online accounts, it could potentially jeopardize your personal information. Similarly, you might have encountered a viral post urging you to share your “superhero name” by combining details about yourself, such as your pet’s name and the street you grew up on.
Interestingly, these posts cleverly request information that coincides with common online security questions, and this is not a mere coincidence. Sharing too much information online can make you vulnerable to cyberattacks and identity theft.
3. Don’t log into social media on public WiFi
Public WiFi is a great convenience, but it can also be a big security risk. When you log into your social media accounts on a public WiFi network, you’re putting your personal and professional information at risk. Cybercriminals can easily intercept your data, steal your passwords and login information, and gain access to your social media accounts. To stay safe, only log into your social media accounts on secure networks or consider using a VPN service like PureVPN, which provides an extra layer of security to keep hackers at bay.
4. Use two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that requires a password and a secondary verification method, like a text message or security app, to log into your account. Enable two-factor authentication on all your social media accounts, and incorporate tools like PureKeep to protect all your passwords. This will make it seamless for you and more difficult for cybercriminals to gain access to your personal and professional information.
Read more: 18 most dangerous apps for kids in 2023
