How the Internet Altered Understanding of the Right to Privacy - Research Paper Example

College: How the Internet Has Altered Our Understanding of the Right to Privacy and Our Interaction with One Another DaveEggers’ ‘The Circle’, has managed to depict a dystopian world that has been clearly brought about by social media especially Facebook, Twitter and Google. The internet is defined as a global system of computer networks that are interconnected via routers and servers that are dedicated to one another. All kinds of information such as graphics, texts, video, computer programs and voice can be sent over the internet when two or more computers are connected or linked the other. No one in particular owns the internet although a good number of firms collaborate in its development and functioning. The internet has not only changed people’s lives but has also affected the manner in which they think and respond to situations says (Afuah 4). Therefore, it is clear that Eggers is distasteful of the constant erosion of individuals’ privacy as well as interaction (9). This paper will clearly show how the internet has altered people’s understanding of the right to privacy and their interaction with one another. Eggers portray these aspects through Mae who is employed at the circle. This is an organization that created formulated an all in one password key where users adopted their real name online. The company does not take into considerations people right to privacy especially when it creates a camera that streams videos to the internet to ensure honesty and a world free of crime (3-8). This has huge republications to people’s privacy since their lives’ are exposed in the internet through these videos. “All that happens must be known” is the company’s slogan which clearly depicts that people’s privacy is no longer a thing to consider (68). The ability of the internet being out of touch with people’s way of life has been well shown in the book. Social media has also made interactions incongruous. This is because of that the internet has encouraged anonymity. This has not only destroyed people’s relationships, but also affected communication between two individuals. Majority of the people around the world are striving towards achieving social competency. People are showing low skills of positive face to face interactions with one another but are highly active when it comes to social media. Such kinds of interactions may be as simple as posting pictures or funny messages or adventures from the daily lives of the individuals. It can also be seen that a good number of people that are active online have poor ways of relating with others face to face. The right to privacy on the other hand has really been affected in this digital era. This is because; people’s information has been placed in a central location. For instance, bank account information, credit cards and other important personal information is vulnerable to identity theft, and creation of false identities (Eggers 22). However, from Circle’s world, “privacy is theft” and people do not have the right to privacy, but they are bound to be transparent (Eggers 305). If an individual fails to disclose information, ten one is depriving people the benefit of having information. These are misguided notions because very many people will end up losing their information to malicious people. On the other hand, such platforms may end up making a person to feel completely exposed when they join a community in which everyone is having their own interest and that there is nothing common to talk about. The Circle as an institution manufactures many products as well as ideas which are helpful to the community. However, when one pays attention to the details in the products, one comprehends that in the future there will be lots of detrimental and negative effects brought about the products in the future. This is provided by an example about children who have chips implanted, but are unable to be removed when they are adults. It is evident that lack of privacy among many people was facilitated by Circle’s products. Social media has not only changed interpersonal communication, but exposed their private, as well as, confidential information to many people. This makes information easily accessible and makes it vulnerable to malicious people like hackers. This is proven by Mae who goes back to her parents’ home and sees a past lover called Mercer. Mae judges him by what people have said on social media platforms without understanding that the information is false. According to Eggers (132), she accuses the ex-boyfriend of utilizing “endangered species for his work” although the information was not right. Mercer just wanted her to “stop getting news about him from third parties” instead ask him directly for the information (Eggers 132). This clearly shows that as the world is constantly changing, platforms such as Facebook are making it easy for people to know nearly everything about a person (Bimber 158). Eggers depict how social media platforms have changed the interaction with other people. This is because, before people started to use the internet, they would go to social places and have one on one conversation. One would get to learn more about the other person in all aspects. As described by Eggers, “you’re at table with three humans, all of whom are looking at you and trying to talk to you, and you’re staring at a screen” (Eggers, 262). Clearly people are trying to look for attention from the world instead of invoking their love. Social media messages therefore create an impression that privacy is dead but nothing can be far from the basic truth. Social media platforms are good for business publications and communication with other people from different parts of the world. However, it can also be use in destroying people’s lives. For instance, cyber bullying is evident. For instance, posting false information about people and making fun of them. For instance, a lot of people especially the youth have been noted to give out their personal information and further accept the roles that the internet is playing in their lives. Additionally, many organizations have come up with different ways to make peoples’ lives easy. For instance, Circle produced ‘Homie’ a product that scans the house for bar codes and order new products if they are getting low (Eggers 260). This means that different organizations have information of what people have in their houses. This clearly makes it obvious that our homes are not private. This is further expounded by Afuah who further say that many people have their personal details exposed and nearly all of their activities monitored on the internet’ (27). Social platforms such as Facebook have over the years changed people’s ways of life and made it easy to have their information accessed by very many people and invading their privacy. Examples of details that are easily accessed are addresses, phone numbers and the place or residence of the people. Similarly, when people take photographs about their personal items and property, many robbers develop the interest in knowing their exact locations and where they come from. Eggers has also discussed the extent to which individuals give up security privacy. This is seen in the SeeCange program created by Circle in order to cut down on crime. Additionally, one can set up cameras in their homes to monitors their babies while at work. However, if this device is gotten by malicious people, then it could be used as a spy gadget exposing the lives of the family. This can be contented to Mercer’s statement “what if someone was willing to use this power to punish those who challenged them” (Eggers 261). If another individual can be able to control the life of another person, then they also have the power to change and under grade them. The internet has altered people’s understanding of the right to privacy and their interaction with one another. This has been seen through the emergence of the internet which has affected the way human beings interact and protect their privacy in both the positive and negative ways (Eggers 389). It has been seen that a lot of people especially are over sharing and developing much interactions with people of the same age as they share common ideas and interests. Coping things over the internet can make a lot of people mimic what they see with the belief that they are the right things that the society should advocate for. Many people are being exposed to dangerous groups such as criminals over the internet due to exposing much of their personal information such as addresses and contacts. This clearly shows that, the internet has altered people’s understanding of the right to privacy and their interaction with one another. There are other cases where people gave up private information like social security to any organization. Evidently, in this new age of communication where social media has taken over people lives, many individuals are sending messages to family and friends. This has reduced the amount of time that they spend together and reduced their level of interaction. Internet communication has changed to be a lifestyle especially with the younger people. This has not only become a major part of their lives, but also changed how people interact. This is because they are constantly focusing their attention to the messages without paying attention to other aspects of their lives. Social media has become a huge distraction to very many individuals all over the world. This has not only reduced their interaction levels, but also altered their focus away from imperative things in life. Works Cited Afuah, Allan, and Christopher L. Tucci. Internet business models and strategies: Text and cases. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 2000. 4-20 Bimber, Bruce. "The Internet and political transformation: Populism, community, and accelerated pluralism." Polity (1998): 133-160. Boyd, Danah. "Why youth (heart) social network sites: The role of networked publics in teenage social life." MacArthur foundation series on digital learning–Youth, identity, and digital media volume, (2007): 119-142. Eggers, Dave. The Circle. New York, NY: Vintage Books. 2014. Print. Krol, Ed. The whole Internet users guide and catalog. OReilly & Associates, Inc., 1992:20-67 Lewis, Kevin, Jason Kaufman, and Nicholas Christakis. "The taste for privacy: An analysis of college student privacy settings in an online social network." Journal of Computer‐Mediated Communication, 14.1 (2008): 79-100. Read More