Although social networking can be very beneficial, sometimes websites can lead to exposing more of yourself than you'd really like to.
Erick L. Gonzalez
· 1 month ago
Pete, is privacy really dead, and is social media to blame? I analyze these two questions in different segments, first let’s define privacy. Without going into much detail, let’s make the rational conclusion that one chooses to post his information, thoughts and ideas on the internet without any promise of a return of investment. The action to broadcast one self’s image into the web is as voluntary as deciding what information to post.
Privacy is therefore, not really dead, it's a personal choice. Now, it’s social media to blame for giving people the ability to broadcast themselves to the world… yes. But the important aspect of this argument is not the medium, but the means to the end. In the second part of his thesis the assumption is drawn in that every person who decides not to use social media, therefore not expose themselves to the public eye, will “fade into a lonely obscurity”. I strongly voice my opinion to differ on this subject. Social media may have its shining stars and great moments, but if history were to judge social media today, it would simply be a blip of the evolution of media. Media, in my opinion is heading in an evolutionary path, not towards a social media transformation. For instance, I will not stop paying for cable television to watch yet, another 5 minute YouTube clip. People in general will always prefer quality over quantity. Social media may give some people more visibility where they had none, but only the collaborate aspects will survive the long term, where it’s heading towards the creation of more elaborate and well crafted media, where more high quality professionals collaborate to create high quality content destined for mass consumption.
DW
· 1 month ago
Great points Erick.
Jahbuh
· 1 month ago
I don't think it's that serious, maybe for your industry but for the most part someone applying for an engineer position is not going to lose out on the job because they don't tweet enough.
Mondi
· 1 month ago
Agreed. To the people who come on Mashable and use these kind of sites all the time, we can't imagine a world without it.
But lemme tell ya, it's a pretty HUGE world. I think it's easy to say, oh hey, you're no one if you aren't on Twitter, but then there's a lot of nobodies out there. And I just don't believe that.
Jason Barone
· 1 month ago
How long until the general public starts getting asked "you're not on Facebook????"
Mondi
· 1 month ago
Meanwhile, I'm not signing up via CNN to leave a comment when here will do just fine.
You're coming under fire a bit over there - probably because CNN's audience differs so greatly from your cheerleaders (us) over here.
I would have liked it you pointed out how people can have different personalities online...a lot of the comments you received were about privacy not being dead, and only share what you want, etc etc.
It's true. I'd like to think that the personality I choose to set up via the web, by carefully picking what I want to say, when, where, or how, or what pictures to put up, whatever, are a part of a scheme to make my web identity the way I want it to be.
But I'm still a very private person. You can be active online and share a lot of information, but people won't really ever *know* you until they have a conversation with you.
Kind of like you, Pete. I know nothing about you, minus the whole Mashable/Scotland deal. I'm sure I could find out if I really wanted to, but that's your image, your presence. I know you're different everywhere else, right?
Mondi
· 1 month ago
Just saying...I really hated this final thought: "Those who insert themselves into as many channels as possible look set to capture the most value. They'll be the richest, the most successful, the most connected, capable and influential among us. We're all publishers now, and the more we publish, the more valuable connections we'll make."
I guess that depends on your definition of success, but that was...a little harsh. *sigh*
DW
· 1 month ago
2010 CNN Article:
Social Media is Dead, Privacy holds the Smoking Gun.
Henry
· 1 month ago
great article very insightful i think Privacy is not really dead, it's just a personal choice. thanks for your sharing
All Comments
Privacy is therefore, not really dead, it's a personal choice. Now, it’s social media to blame for giving people the ability to broadcast themselves to the world… yes. But the important aspect of this argument is not the medium, but the means to the end. In the second part of his thesis the assumption is drawn in that every person who decides not to use social media, therefore not expose themselves to the public eye, will “fade into a lonely obscurity”. I strongly voice my opinion to differ on this subject. Social media may have its shining stars and great moments, but if history were to judge social media today, it would simply be a blip of the evolution of media. Media, in my opinion is heading in an evolutionary path, not towards a social media transformation. For instance, I will not stop paying for cable television to watch yet, another 5 minute YouTube clip. People in general will always prefer quality over quantity. Social media may give some people more visibility where they had none, but only the collaborate aspects will survive the long term, where it’s heading towards the creation of more elaborate and well crafted media, where more high quality professionals collaborate to create high quality content destined for mass consumption.
But lemme tell ya, it's a pretty HUGE world. I think it's easy to say, oh hey, you're no one if you aren't on Twitter, but then there's a lot of nobodies out there. And I just don't believe that.
You're coming under fire a bit over there - probably because CNN's audience differs so greatly from your cheerleaders (us) over here.
I would have liked it you pointed out how people can have different personalities online...a lot of the comments you received were about privacy not being dead, and only share what you want, etc etc.
It's true. I'd like to think that the personality I choose to set up via the web, by carefully picking what I want to say, when, where, or how, or what pictures to put up, whatever, are a part of a scheme to make my web identity the way I want it to be.
But I'm still a very private person. You can be active online and share a lot of information, but people won't really ever *know* you until they have a conversation with you.
Kind of like you, Pete. I know nothing about you, minus the whole Mashable/Scotland deal. I'm sure I could find out if I really wanted to, but that's your image, your presence. I know you're different everywhere else, right?
I guess that depends on your definition of success, but that was...a little harsh. *sigh*
Social Media is Dead, Privacy holds the Smoking Gun.
very insightful
i think Privacy is not really dead, it's just a personal choice.
thanks for your sharing