Secrets Exposed

An important aspect of smart technology is the way in which we can use them. Our electronic devices have advanced in a way that creates total convenience for people. Smart phones, iPads, laptops, and computers all permit us to connect with other individuals through different platforms of social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, with a single touch or click of a button. Although this can be viewed as an amazing concept that allows us to virtually stay in touch with our friends and families, these social media apps may pose an extremely dangerous threat to us humans.

Image: Social Media
There has been a recent scandal regarding Facebook and its users. Near the end of March 2018, it was released that Cambridge University created an app known as “thisisyourdigitallife”. This app asked certain Facebook users to take a personality test and share certain aspects of their profile for academic use. This test became extremely well known throughout the Facebook community. Approximately 270,000 individuals agreed to participate in the study. However, results showed something extremely suspicious. 

Image: Cambridge Analytica
Although there were only 270,000 Facebook users who agreed to participate in the study, Cambridge Analytica was able to garner private information on more than 50 million individuals. Now you may be wondering… how is this possible? How could Cambridge gather information from 50 million people when only 270,000 gave consent? We recently found out the truth. The reality.

Anyone who even downloaded the app “thisisyourdigitallife” had their private Facebook information exposed and collected by Cambridge Analytica. Scary, right? You would think that putting your personal information on Facebook to connect with friends and family would be considered somewhat safe. You would think that there would be a regulation in the Terms and Conditions we “agreed” upon that will provide us with some sort of protection. However, this is not always the case. It is obvious we barely read and thoroughly understand the Terms and Conditions for many different things – including apps and social media platforms. This is where the danger lies. 

Image: Cambridge Analytica v. Facebook
Individuals unknowingly gave consent to Cambridge to have access to their personal information when downloading the app. An extremely large amount of people fell for this dangerous trap. How can we further trust social media platforms like Facebook to keep our profile information safe from companies? Has this sense of trust already failed between users and social media creators?

New York Times released an article stating some of the aspects of our profiles which Cambridge Analytica had access to. The data that was collected included the identities of the users, their friendship networks, the their “likes”. Cambridge Analytica was originally hired by President Trump’s 2016 election campaign to “identify the personalities of American voters and influence their behavior”. However, this still does not give Cambridge any right to trick people into permitting the company to have access to users' personal information. 

To provide technological users with a sense of security, Facebook has stated that the company will hire a digital forensics firm. This firm will allow for professionals to go over the accuracy of the claims certain companies are making in regards to having access in users’ personal information. People were outraged that Facebook had allowed their private information to be leaked to bigger firms. However, as I was talking to a couple of my friends about the situation, many of them stated that they had expected this. They always had this feeling in the back of their minds that nothing is considered “personal” on social media. There are eyes everywhere. This includes the eyes of the makers, other companies, other users, and even the government. 

Now this is the scary thing. Yes, social media creates a fun and creative way in which we can continue to talk to our loved ones, friends, and connect with celebrities and other people around the world. These platforms of social media are thus extremely beneficial in this manner. However, when certain issues occur, like the scandal between Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, this is when we as users have to draw the line. How much do we want to risk for our ability to use social media? Do the benefits outweigh the dangers?

Smart technology, such as our iPhones, laptops, computers, iPads and other advanced electronics only make this decision even harder for us. These devices allow us to have an easier access to use social media platforms that may expose our personal information at any given time. As time progresses, our smart devices will further advance, as well. As time progresses, it will therefore become even harder for us to choose between personal safety or the use of social media and technology. However, as time progresses, hopefully more people become aware of this hazardous aspect of smart technology and limit their use. 

Comments

  1. I thought it was interesting how you mentioned that some of your friends expected this. To be quite honest, I feel like I agree. For some reason, I wasn't particularly surprised by this revelation and always thought anything I did online wasn't private. But, this blog post does make me realize that my disposition is probably not good! Why should I just assume that my information isn't private? This feeling that so many people in America and other countries have is a side effect of the highly technological world we have come to depend on.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Emily! I had heard about the recent scandal with Facebook, but was confused as to what it all meant. I do not know who is to really blame for this fiasco. Did Mark Zuckerberg really let this happen? Or was it all Cambridge Analytica's fault? Or is it our fault for being so trusting on an internet database. I think this new controversy is really going to make us think about how much we put on social media and if we should be utilizing it at all. At this point, the world is too far gone in terms of obsession of social media. Great post!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emily, I heard about this scam a few months ago! I think it's really important for us to be more aware of the personal information we share on the internet because it's not just about us anymore. When you give out your personal information you're also putting your family and friends at risk. I'm not entirely surprised that this company was able to gain so much information, though, because I know that nothing I do on the internet is private. I think we just have to pay more attention to the details and take a second to ask ourselves, "If I met a stranger on the street would I give him/her this information?"

    ReplyDelete
  4. Emily, I definitely agree that it is not right for companies like Cambridge Analytica to trick us into letting them access our personal information, but I am more in accord with your friends’ thoughts that nothing on social media is private. It is a similar idea to the “once you post it, it is out there forever” reality. I feel that social media is a powerful tool for connecting with others, sharing news, and for businesses, but I also think that if you wish to keep something private you should not post it on social media even if your account is “private.”

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks for explaining this so clearly! I can't believe that all this information was leaked but I can. The most frustrating part in my opinion is that Trump received the relevant information that he needed to shape his campaign in order to receive the most amount of votes. Yes, it was. good tactic but makes me feel like he cheated the voters because data told him what the people wanted, not his sense of understanding.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember hearing about the Facebook scandal with Cambridge Analytica. It's pretty scary to think that third party companies can get so much information so easily. I think it's interesting that you said your friends expected this, and I think to some degree are any of us really surprised? For years we have heard how Facebook is doing more than just connecting people with friends and family around the globe, but who knew just how much more.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It is very scary to think about how there could be a day where a code could be created to access all smart phones. I even had to do a debate on why it was not a good idea. I hardly post anything on social media knowing that one post will be out there forever.

    ReplyDelete
  8. What is funny though is that every single thing that people are complaining about is laid out clearly in Facebook's EULA as well as other agreements. Which means that legally, these people cannot complain because they consented to having their personal data used commercially. Snapchat, for instance, owns the legal right to any image that we post or send in it. And we all agreed to it. This is the tradeoff. Should we enjoy the convenience and have our privacy stolen? or should we liven under a rock to protect our privacy?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have to say that I am probably one of those people who are not entirely surprised by the idea that my personal information can be obtained via social media. Am I irritated that this information can be found and accessed? Absolutely. When I am using social media, I never think to myself: "Oh, I really hope some stranger can get into my account's personal information, today;" however, I am aware that the online world is never a private matter. In regards to this knowledge, using social media has become a more distant activity to pass the time for me personally. I find that I rarely post on any of my social media platforms but rather keep tabs on what is going on in the lives of the people and world around me. In a way, I think this situation between Cambridge University and Facebook really helps project awareness despite some feelings of disdain towards the 50 million people whose information was accessed unknowingly. Maybe we as a society will be more careful and really read the fine print of those "Terms and Agreements" documents in the future.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment