Privacy in the Digital Age

Privacy is one of those things that you don’t think about until you realize how easy it is to have it stripped away from you. Watching the privacy TED Talks made me, and I am sure others, uncomfortable, because so much of this is part of our daily lives. Whether it is social media, smartphones, or being tracked all the time, the age of privacy is more about things being collected without your consent than about things you willingly share.
One of the most striking aspects of the talks was just how permanent our lives on the internet can be.  The casual snapshots of our photos, our comments, or even our locations will haunt us for eternity.  This is something I try to remember, but it is not discussed as much as it should be. It is a strange notion that something that takes a matter of seconds to share can come back to haunt you years down the line when you are older and wiser.  It is not just me that should be concerned; my friends and family should be, as well, especially the younger generations who may not be privy to this information.


Another alarming aspect of the talks was the sheer volume of even seemingly harmless information that is tracked behind the scenes. How we travel, how many times we fly, and even how our cell phones move throughout the day paint a pretty accurate picture of who we are.  That is disturbing to think about, especially when it comes to the corporations and the government.  I realized that privacy is about protecting yourself, not necessarily about hiding something illegal or amoral. 
The talks also made me aware of how many ways technology can be used as a weapon against people in truly horrific ways. When people have private information or images shared without their permission, the emotional and mental ramifications caused are truly devastating.  In this regard, privacy became more personal for me; it is not just a concept but something people deal with in their daily lives. Technology can be great, but it can also humiliate and control people if it is not properly regulated. 
I do think the government needs to take privacy and data collection more seriously and put in place stronger regulations for digital surveillance. However, we also need to protect ourselves and be more aware of what we share and read, and to check privacy settings before we engage with various types of media. These talks made me realize that privacy is not something we should take for granted. In the age of technology, we all need to protect our privacy—and the privacy of our family and friends, as well.