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Communication is a vital aspect of human life. It is through new communication technology that individuals of any age are able to communicate with those around them at anytime or place during the day, in order to fulfil the human desire to communicate.

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Do social networks, such as Facebook, prevent adolescents from keeping the notion of privacy?

In today’s social world, technology plays a major role in the way in which individuals are able to communicate with each other, in order to build and maintain their personal and professional relationships. The ability to protect one’s personal privacy online has become increasingly difficult with the developing technologies that are being introduced to the market on an annual basis. “Privacy involves a variety of factors, techniques, and technologies that are used to protect private and sensitive data, communications, and preferences” (Doyle, 2016). It is social networks, such as Facebook, that can have a negative effect on society’s ability to keep their personal information private from those around them. The first Facebook office in Australia was founded in Sydney in 2008, before another has introduced in Melbourne in 2009. Since then Facebook has grown to be one of the most powerful social media platforms in the world and used by so many individuals from all around the world on a daily basis. With such a large number of users, there are increasing concerns around the world on a daily basis. With such a large number of users, there are increasing concerns around the privacy problems involved with Facebook, in particular the adolescents (10-18 years of age) of today, with research revealing that adolescents spend an average of 106 minutes on their Facebook profile alone per day (Kosir, et al., 2016). Facebook states that’s it’s mission is to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected (Zuckerberg, 2016). Facebook has only been around for a few years, and in this short amount of time have had a number of problems related to infringements on their user’s rights of privacy (Milazzo, 2014). It is as a result of these high numbers and the number of infringements related to a user’s rights of privacy, that in relation to adolescents, Facebook has raised a large amount of privacy concerns centered around adolescents and their use of the platform. Facebook prevents one’s ability from keeping their privacy, due to the way in which an individual creates a Facebook account. The privacy concerns continue after making an account, due to the various functions that are available to the user of the platform, as well as the pressure to follow the social norms of those around them.

A major concern with Facebook privacy, is the personal information a new user of the platform must reveal in order to create their own Facebook page. The sign-up forces adolescents to share this personal information, due to the majority of the sign-up details being mandatory in order to create one’s account. Facebook asks for the new users first name and last name, an email address, a birthday, the users gender, and for the individual to create a password which they will use to access their account (Milazzo, 2014). It is from this information alone, that one person has the ability to find out much more about the individual in a short amount of time, causing great concern for adolescents of today. That same page also has written in tiny font ‘By clicking sign-up, you have agreed to our terms and conditions that you have read out data use policy’ as a way to avoid new users, in particular adolescents from reading these terms and conditions (Milazzo, 2014). It is the way in which Facebook have purposely set up their sign-up page, that prevents adolescents from becoming informed of the privacy issues that are involved with the creation and use of a Facebook account. By not having the terms and conditions of creating an account present on the sign-up page but instead having link to a different page, adolescents are less likely to actively read the privacy issues involved with the creation of a Facebook account. Although Facebook does offer some levels of privacy protection strategies a user can use in order to stay safe online, it has been revealed that adolescents portray more personal information that uses the site (Christofides, et al., 2012). It is through Facebook purposely asking personal questions and not displaying their terms and conditions on their sign-up page, that Facebook actively prevents adolescents from keeping the notion of privacy.

The functions that are available for a user to complete on their Facebook account, also has a major influence on the way in which Facebook prevents adolescents from keeping their personal details private. The ability to comment on ones own and other individuals profiles, as well as complete actions, such as post status updates, photos and allow others to comment on these posts, effect one’s ability to withhold their private details from those around them (Child, 2016). The option to comment, and create posts is forced onto the individual by Facebook through the placement of these options, on the opening page of one’s Facebook page. They are placed directly at the top of the page, making it the first option, an adolescents views when visiting their page, encouraging them to complete the action. It is by revealing this information to other users of Facebook that other users of this platform gain a co-ownership of this individual’s personal information that has been shared (Child, 2015). It is through functions such as those stated previously that Facebook encourages its users to share their personal details whether it is revealing where they are at that exact moment or how they are feeling, with fellows users of the specific social media platform, Facebook as a result has a powerful ability of preventing adolescents from upholding the notion privacy.

Facebook is a powerful platform used by a number of adolescents across the world, it is mainly used by adolescents to build and maintain relationships with those that are close around them, for example peers at school (Marder, et al., 2016). Adolescents also have the ability to create societal norms, which can encourage those around them to actively follow these particular norms. It is these social norms, particularly through the adolescents years, that they have a major impact on an individual’s decision to keep various aspects of their lives private, or to share this information publicly on their Facebook profile. The desire to maintain relationships with those around them, can put a large amount of pressure on an adolescent to follow that of the social norms, created by those around them. It has been revealed that the way in which an individual’s peer sets up their privacy settings plays an overall impact on the way in which that individual sets up their Facebook, often mimicking that of their peer’s settings (Marder, et al., 2016). Adolescents are more likely to follow the way in which a more “popular” peer, displays their private information on public platforms, such as Facebook, this causing the individual to follow the social norms create by the “popular” peers (Marder, et al., 2016). It is by following the societal norms created by those round them, that an individual is more likely to reveal their personal details, such as where they work and got to school with those around them. Due to the desire to build and maintain relationships, as well as the social norms, an individual will take unintended actions to reveal personal information publicly via their Facebook profile (Marder, et al., 2016).

Social media has become a powerful communication tool used by individuals all around the world, to build and maintain relationships with the people around them. With the technological world always changing, including the introduction of social media platforms, such as Facebook, the ability to keep your personal information private has become more challenging and uncommon in todays society. Facebook encourages an individual to release their private information in a variety of different ways. Facebook’s sign-up page forces the individual to reveal personal information in order to create an account. The way in which Facebook is set up also encourages the individual to reveal their personal information to fellow Facebook users. Facebook also has become a significant part of adolescents and as a result has caused a social norm to be formed, which involves young individuals to present their personal information. It is from these reasons, it can be revealed, that Facebook plays a powerful role in preventing adolescents from keeping the notion of privacy.

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Planning my Essay

After last week’s post about picking my essay topic, this week we were asked to use a website that will help organise our research findings we may use for our essay. I decided to try the website that was recommended for us, which was Diigo. The website ended up being a helpful way to save and store my sources for my essay. 

This week I also made a plan for my essay, such as planning my arguments, and researching definitions that are relevant to my thesis.

My arguments for my essay include:

1. The sign-up process for Facebook

2. The way in which Facebook is set-up

3. Following the social norm

I will use these arguments to support the thesis of my essay.

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Web 2.0 and Privacy?

In class this week, we were asked to pick our topic for an academic essay we will write over the next few weeks. We were given a variety of topics that were centred around New Communication Technology, relating to privacy, hacking, cyberpunk, cyberspace, and copyright.

I have chosen to do my essay in relation to the topic of privacy and in particular Facebook, as it is something I am interested in and have experienced first hand.

My thesis for my essay is “Social media networks, such as Facebook, put pressure on adolescents to expose their private details”.

By basing my research around adolescents, I will be able to gain accurate data about this topic.

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Connecting with Parliament

The NSW State Premier is Mike Baird, as he is my State Premier (New South Wales Government, 2016). I decided to do some research into him and find out when the last time he spoke in parliament, however, the Hansard website was not user friendly at all and resulted in me giving up. I then decided to send him a message in support of his previous actions s the State Premier, during my previous research I discovered his Twitter account and decided to use that as a way to send him a message, wasn’t allowed, Facebook, wasn’t allowed, the only way I was able to contact him was through sending him a letter this made me think, a government of that level should be easily accessible but any NSW resident, especially those who are valid to vote. I believe that we should be able to connect to our State Premier, especially through social media and the growing platforms of Facebook and Twitter.  

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Connecting with the Powerful Through a Variety of Platforms

Barack Obama is a powerful figure not only in America but the entire world, this is made possible through media platforms such as Twitter. Barack Obama’s tweets vary from political problems, societal problems and everyday activities, allowing his fans to have a taste of his lifestyle. This platform allows individuals like myself to interact with these powerful figures on topics we are interested in, as seen below.

The platform, Twitter also allows for people for people like myself to communicate with major news sites, such as Channel 7 News, on current news topic and information, such as the one shown below.

However, as I have spoken about in previous blog posts, the internet and platforms such as Twitter also have some down falls. The Australian Government introduced a ‘clean feed’ internet service for all Australian house holds, as well as schools and public computers. This service was put in place to stop prescribed lists of websites being accessible to the Australian population, in particular ensure children are ‘protected from harmful and inappropriate online material’ (Travaglione, 2009). However, censor does not have a place in a democracy as, within a democracy the power is in the people, they have the right to freedom of speech, which include4s the ability to search what they like on the internet freely (Flanagan, et al., 2015).

The next big thing to help make it possible for us to use these social media tools in the NBN network. The NBN rollout is run by the government business entity, and will aim to provide wholesaler services providers who will deliver plans to various homes and businesses in Australia. The entire project is designed to benefit the Australian population in daily activities such as work, education and personal interests, by providing a faster internet services in households and businesses (NBN, 2016).

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E-Petition State Difference?

In our New Communication Technology (NCT) tutorial this week we were asked to sign an e-petition on any given topic, easy right? Well not exactly. I live in a different state to where I go to University, this often causes minor problems but, this particular task caused much more. When I went to sign an online e-petition from within Queensland, the website informed that I was unable to sign this petition as I was not living at registered Queensland address. I then decided to search for NSW petitions but when I came across the Parliament of New South Wales websites section for petitions they did not have petitions available for the general public to sign.

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Social Media Privacy

Social media is such a large part of everyone’s lives within todays society, but how big of an impact has social media had on individual lives? And how aware are they about the privacy issues involved with social media?

Through this survey i was able to collect primary research on this particular topic. it was found that of the individuals surveyed 42% had four or more social media accounts with 55% indicating Facebook to be their most used forum. The survey also indicated that 24% of those interviewed stated that they were aware of the privacy risks involved with social media but choose to ignore it with half of those stating that they have had a negative experience with their privacy on social media and in particular Facebook. This made me ask the question why after being aware of the privacy risks involved with social media and having negative experiences wth it, why would one choose to still be apart of the social media world?

I decided to do some research on other people’s views on this topic I found a journal article called “Social Media and Privacy Issues: A Matter of Common Sense” written by Cyndy Kryder (Kryder, 2012). Kryder explains the concept that privacy, in relation to social media, is common sense, he also offers a few tips to help control the personal information you share on social media sites. You can have a look at the list here, to help secure your personal information online.

Some of the results of the survey are displayed below for you to make your own judgement of the effect of social media on society and their protection of personal information.

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This week in our New Communication Technology tutorial, we were asked to create a timeline about Cyberpunk or a particular zone of communication history. However, I personally am not a fan of cyberpunk, so I decided to do my timeline of something I am much more familiar and interested in, the evaluation of the Mobile Phone. When completing the task I was fascinated in when and how the first mobile phone was invented and the events that followed. Have a look at the timeline yourself, were you surprised with the events and when they occurred? (Hardman, 2014)

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Census 2016 Fail?

The census has been apart of Australia’s history since 1911 and is completed every 5 years, this year the census was completed on the 9th of August (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). However, this year was a bit different from the others, as the census was completed online for the first time in the 100 years the census has been taking place. With a large amount of pressure on the Australian Bureau of Statistics, many believing the server would not be able to handle the large number of people connecting to the website, however the ABS promised that everything would be safe and run smoothly. 

As many of you guys are probably already aware of, this didn’t happen, with the website crashing causing outrage across the entire nation. The moment that stopped the nation, was put on hold with the population of Australia left questioning what was now meant to happen for the 2016 census, many also question why the census was put online and does everything really have to follow the evolving world of the internet? What do you think?

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My Experience with Communication Technology

Throughout my lifetime technology has been a major way for myself to communicate with my family, friends and the world around me, as well as be a major part of my education. Applications such as Google which I spoke about in my previous blog post, were a major part of my schooling life, though communicating to teachers and handing in assignments, as well as sharing notes with peers. Soon Google accounts became a compulsory application within my school, as a way to complete our studies. It is through applications such as Google accounts, that technology gained a larger presence in the way that I communicate with those around me as well as completing daily tasks.

The use of technology within schools cause help have a positive effect on younger students as they prepare for their future career as well as provide a great diversity in the way that the students learn (Wainwright, 2016).

Maybe it is the world around us, such as the workforce, school,friends or family pushing us into technical world and allowing it to take over our lives. However, I ask the question with everyone using technology as the main way to communicate between each other and complete daily tasks, maybe it isn’t such a negative thing to allow it to engulf our lives?

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Does Google control you life?

In class we were asked to merge our email accounts together, so that emails received on our University email would be forwarded to my personal account, my initial thought was no, but then I asked why don’t I want this to happen.

I realised that I wanted to keep them seperate, not only for convenience and to be organised but also for the idea that they are seperate, that my personal life and University life can be distinguish between the two. Sometimes we just want to check emails from friends, family and about our personal interests without the added stress of University tasks that needed to be completed and deadlines that are lingering. Sometimes we need separation and today that is hard to have with the concept of the internets algorithms personalising our internet activity. Have you ever been looking at something online for personal interests, and had an add pop up on the side related to something you looked at that day for work? I felt this was my last chance to keep work and my personal life seperate.

These days with programs such as google, you can connect your email addresses, YouTube account, school work such as documents, presentations, etc. all into one. Google also has the ability to control the route we drive between destinations as well as call people for us, access our personal photos, even organise our lives into a calendar. That concerned me did I not have the physical ability to organise my own life into a calendar, as shown above, while having a play around with a Microsoft word document I was able to put the important dates of my New Communication Technology class into a simple calendar without the help of google. So I ask the question does the internet and platforms such as Google control our lives? 

Take a look at this add for Google and think about the control it has in our daily lives.

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Welcome to Communication Then and Now,

On this blog we will discuss a variety of new communication technology, and the various effects it has on society in relation to how we live and interact as a result of these technologies, as well as our views and opinions of each. Each week we will look at a new topic, that has been addressed within my class, as well as discuss new communication technologies that I have come into contact with over that previous week.

To gain a better understanding of communication, and how it is used universally not only by humans, in class we viewed the TED talk by Suzanne Simard about her experiment with trees, and her discovery that they actually communicate between one and other. This sparked conversation about other ways in which communication is used, for example humans often communicate with their animals, as well as the concept of PokémonGo, and whether this game could be considered a communication medium, or as a facilitator of communication through events such as meet ups between players. I personally believe that PokémonGo is not a way in which people can communicate but more a facilitator for individuals to interact over a common interest.

Take a look at the video and think of other ways in which communication is used within the world, and not just between humans (Simard, 2016).