Online Privacy-Really?
There are many things about the internet and the web that are great. Privacy is not one of them. Some might even wonder if there is such a thing as online privacy. Companies that we do business with like our bank, retails and even Facebook would have us believe there is such a thing as online privacy. Heck, we all “read” and “agree” to each company’s privacy policies when we are conducting business online. After all, it’s a policy and we are protected and our information is safe, right? Safe from whom?
Sure most companies go to great lengths and spend great sums of money to protect our basic information, such as social security and bank numbers etc. from hackers and outsiders. That’s great, but sometimes that is not enough and unfortunately, it is difficult for those companies to stay ahead of technology in safe guarding our information.
But on the flip side of the coin, companies generate a lot of “coin” that is money off the information we give them about ourselves. No, they don’t sell it to third parties, just their affiliates. Case in point, I recently refinanced my home. Great, right? Got a lower rate and payment. I also got a lot more. More mail, more emails, for things CitiMortgage thinks I need: everything to life insurance, home warranties, new roofing, new appliances, home improvement and who knows what else. I just can’t wait to open my mail or email each day, not to mention my mortgage statement with something new each month from one of CitiMortgage’s affiliates. But CitiMortgage didn’t sell my information to third parties, no, just to their affiliate. I know, I got the great rate and CitiMortgage is banking it well from all my information.
Now that’s just one example, the internet is set up in such a way to track where we search, what we do and purchase. You didn’t think that email account you got was really free did you? Someone has to paid for it; it costs lots of money to keep servers, technology and the infrastructures updated and running. And, yes internet companies get paid to track us. A bit creepy right? It would be like if someone is following you and watching everything you do in a store. Oh wait, that happens too, if the store has cameras, which most do. All this information on what we do online is categorized so that someone can market just the perfect products for us. It’s big business in today’s world. But that’s just the information we put out there that we don’t even think about.
What about the information we willingly and eagerly put out there. Such as the information we post on Facebook. We are so eager to share every aspect of our life, what we feel, what we do, where we go, what we find funny, even our present location. Duh, who’s bright idea was that one; Let’s tell everyone we’re on our or on vacation and our house is empty, might as well leave the door open. But that’s what we do, we put everything out there in the open for anyone to come by and take and use it for their own personal gain.
People just share too much: TMI-too much information. And often that information can come back to haunt us, get one arrested or even fired.
People forget that anything posted online, even if deleted is out there, forever. It only takes some diligent person to find it. Sometimes it is not even that hard. We just put it out there for everyone to see, even the police. Just ask the 19 year-old Florida women who took a picture of her baby with a bong that was arrested on possession of drug paraphernalia and caught the attention of Florida’s Department of Children and Families. Not too bright. Or ask Adam Bauer, 19 who posted a picture of himself holding a beer and was arrested for underage drinking. Stupid and the news is full of these types of cases.
And yes, folks have lost their jobs over Facebook posts. It has happened to one of my co-workers because of comments made. I have even heard of others who were fired over pictures posted such as the case of Georgia teacher Ashley Payne who lost her job after a vacation photo was posted.
People think that what they post on their own time, on their site is not their employer’s business. Think again and while you’re at it, better check your employer’s policy on social media and character clauses. I tell others, don’t post anything that you don’t want your grandparents or future kids to know or see. It just might still be out there.
Be Private, Really.
Eva Prada
Is “Online Privacy” the Ultimate Oxymoron?
http://www.sensibleemarketing.com/
eveofmarketing 
Hi Eva! I really like your view on internet privacy. It is absolutely crazy how we readily we give out our information. Its the scary truth that everyone can know where you are and what you are doing.
I really enjoyed your post Eva. What a great summary concerning internet and privacy. I agree with you on your thought about companies selling your information or companies tracking every movement you make online. Do people ask themselves why are they getting mail from the sites they’ve been visiting online in the past days? What a coincidence right? I often feel as if even if I tried, I couldn’t get out of sight. We are being watched. Even when we purchase thing in physical stores and not online… every single movement is tracked and that to me is really scary. I have a post on my blog with a similar topic => http://laurapati.wordpress.com/2013/03/24/fitness-stars-and-privacy/
After I read your comments, I learned another way to see this topic. I agree with you because it is true. Every time that you go inline and enter your personal information is not anymore private. Companies should follow rules and procedures in order to protect it’s customer information, but it is not one hundred percent secure. Now, I am thinking about what can I do to protect myself for future purchases online.
Thank you!
It is a give and take situation. Sure, we like to know what our friends are up to. However,the more we post and share; the more we expose ourselves and give away the right to our privacy. Everybody should know by now to be discreet, but sadly some people do not care until one day they get embrassed because of an online picture or get fired from a job.
Awesome post! I believe that as marketers this may not be such a bad thing. Talking as business person and entrepreneur, the internet represents such a valuable source of information from the market, and in a much cheaper way as we gather information from larger markets. Now from the customer point of view, this is pretty much creepy most of the time. I believe, however, that the best thing to do is acquire a balance. As customers, we must educate ourselves on which are the things we really do not want to have exposed and which things are not important to protect.
Excellent Article…. I agree that while companies claim to “protect your privacy” they have soo many affiliates that they leak your information to, that there are no 3rd parties to sell to… no need to when that 3rd party could just become one of their affiliates, and try to sell you services and products they think you may need. There are some plugins and steps you can take to protect your online surfing, but ultimately it comes down to people being prudent about sharing too much.
Eva, I loved your post. It’s so true, and so scary at the same time. People do not even realize what they are posting on the internet will be there forever, and even when they are told some don’t take it into consideration. It’s devastating that something such as a “personal” Facebook post on our own accounts can be found and judged by an employer, or anyone for that matter. The internet is actually becoming a really scary domain, where it feels like almost no information is safe. These past few weeks while doing research online (which you would think would be for your eyes only), I was bombarded with ads and emails about flights and hotel stays. Of course I understand how Google works, and how they form connections by your searches, but it’s a little freaky if you ask me. It makes you feel like someone is watching your every move on the internet. The sad part is, this is really just the beginning of it all.