As young Canadians lack understanding
of online privacy that ultimately leads to Cyber bullying, I would like to
emphasize on privacy and bullying that is the need of modern generation.
According to Associated Press (2013), half of the young people between ages
14-21 have been harassed online at least once due to their privacy breach. So I
think that it is the need of this generation to understand what is online
privacy and cyber bullying and how it could affect them?
What is online privacy?
Online privacy or Internet privacy is
the right of personal privacy concerning the
storing, repurposing, provision to third-parties, and displaying of information
pertaining to oneself through the Internet. According to Techopedia, internet
privacy risks include:
·
Phishing:
An internet hacking activity used to steal user online data that is user name,
password, bank account number, credit card information, personal information,
social insurance number.
·
Pharming:
An internet hacking activity used to redirect a legitimate website visitor to a
different website.
·
Spyware: An offline application that captures user
personal data without their consent.
·
Malware:
An application used to illegally damage user’s online and offline data by
injecting viruses
“You have zero privacy anyway, get
over it” by Scott McNealy are true word today than they were then (Sprenger,
1999). As 80% of Canadians are online today according to the Pew Report and
they disclose their personal information online, most of them don’t really take
steps to secure their personal data. Anything that goes on the online stays
there and it’s public. Google, Yahoo and Facebook trade this information to
advertising agencies for millions of dollars. These advertising agencies know
about your web browsing habits and suggest you contents related to it.
(Douglas, 2012)
Above
picture illustrates that whatever you put on the Internet, it’s not public.
Even though you didn’t share that, it isn’t private. Suppose you put your
hometown, address, birthdate, real name and you didn’t shared that, you may
consider it private but the fact is that your information is being shared by
Facebook with advertising companies.
According to CIRA(2013) report, half
of the Canadians believe that it is acceptable for the government to monitor email
and other online activities of Canadians under some circumstances and it went
up to 77 per cent of Canadians when circumstances include preventing future
terrorists attacks. It shows that people are concerned with their privacy.
They want their information only to
be used for terrorists’ activities.
There are number of issues with the breach
of privacy. Stolen information may lead to email and social website hijack,
social security number, stalking or harassment, loss of reputation and
victimisation by scammers (Rainie, Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013). According
to Pew Research(Rainie, Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013), 21% of Internet
users reported their email or social networking account taken over by someone
without permission, 12% have been stalked or harassed online, 11% have their
personal information of credit card number and social security number stolen.
Many people lost their jobs just because they posted something wrong about
their organization on some social networking website. So these are some of the
issues that can happen due to breach of privacy.
Another finding of PEW report
(Rainie, Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013) says that 86% users have taken steps
to remove their digital footprints by clearing cache or cookies and encrypting
email. 64% of users cleared cookies and browser history, 41% deleted or edited
their post, 41% set their browser to turn off cookies, and 36% of users don’t
use those websites which ask for their real name. People are taking steps to
avoid online privacy breach but they should also know how their personal
information can be used. Couple of month ago, I heard a case of Internet fraud.
A person from China hacked an email account of a trader who used to transfer
money via. Online transaction and then he made a fake account with same user
name and personal information of his client with whom he was trading. Then the
hacker from China ended up stealing $200,000 from that trader.
68% of users don’t know how their
personal information is used by Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo etc. (Rainie,
Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013). They should know their personal and
behavioural information is sold to advertisers. As a result advertisers use
that information for research purposes, give suggestion according to your
search history. This could harm us too if our information goes into wrong hands
like some terrorists group or hackers. Two-third of people don’t trust online
companies like Facebook but they still use these companies and share their
personal information with them. As we have less control over our privacy, is it
getting better or worse? I think that it
is getting worse. As the number of Internet users is getting up day by day,
hackers now have wide range of users to make their targets. According to PEW
report(Rainie, Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013), 69% of users feel that they
have less control over their privacy today than they did have five years
earlier. Control over privacy is getting worse with the advancement of
technology. But the issue of privacy is getting important to users because of
increase in the number of Internet thefts, frauds and bullying. As most of the
information on the Internet is uploaded in last 5 years, this shows the shift
of consumers from physical world to internet world. And with this great shift,
there will also be increase in crime.
What consumers want to know about is
who is collecting their data and what is being collect?
84% of users are curious to know what
information is being collected from their profile (Rainie, Kiesler, Kang &
Madden, 2013)? A study show that based on what information is being collected
from their profile, consumer’s wants to customize what information should be
shared and transparent to others. They should be able to choose what is to be
shared or not?
("Nsa busted spying,"
2013)
This
picture illustrates that whatever you do on the Internet, you are being watched
by the information collecting sites. Websites like Facebook and Google sell
your personal information and behavioural history to advertising companies.
Nothing is private on the Internet.
As we know that adult users are
curious to know about their privacy and are taking steps regarding privacy, it
found that teenagers are opposite to that. According to Madden (2013),
teenagers are sharing their personal information freely. They are not showing
high level of concerns regarding their privacy. Only a little percentage of 9%
says that they are very concerned about their privacy (Madden, et al, 2013). According
to PEW research (Rainie, Kiesler, Kang & Madden, 2013), more than two-
third of the teenagers share their real name, photos, city, interest while
around half of teenagers share their email and relation status on their
profile. This could harm them in many ways. An enemy could use their photo on
unwanted websites like porn sites. Interest shared by users can be used by
advertising sites which can take them to different unwanted websites.
There are number of measures to reduce
privacy breach on Internet. Here are some measures by Douglas (2012) that
protect your personal data online:
·
Make
sure you are logged out from your Google service account before using Google’s
search engine because google tracks all your web searches.
·
Make
sure to check your privacy setting of your social media accounts frequently as
policies change from time to time.
·
Make
sure that password saving feature is disabled when you are using private
computers because anybody can hack to your account if he/she have your
password.
·
You
can install a browser extension called ghostery. Ghostery will detect and block
all those tracking tool you don’t wish websites owners be using on you while
you are browsing.
What is Bullying?
Have you ever been bullied in your school, playground or at
any other private place? Well, I think not. As we are modern generation, where
we spend most of our time on Internet.
There must be high bullying cases on Internet via. Facebook, Twitter, or
any other social website. Many children must have a good idea of what bullying
is because they see it every day, mostly on the Internet now. Bullying used to
be in the form of punching, shoving, spreading bad rumours, or teasing. But in
the modern era, cyber- bullying is taking place. Cyber- bullying is using the
internet or text messaging to intimidate, put down, spread rumours or make fun of
someone. Bullying is not just a part of growing up, it is a myth. It can
destroy life of a person. Cyber-bullying could be limited to posting rumors or gossips about a
person in the internet bringing about hatred in other’s minds; or it may go to
the extent of personally identifying victims and publishing materials severely
defaming and humiliating them.
(Hershorn, 21012)
This picture illustrates that how cyber bullying can harm
you. Though you are not bullied physically, but the consequences will be worse
because it going on the internet where everyone can see and it stays there for
ever. Thanks to our technology, bullying
can now unabated on the phone, on social media and even in videos.
According to
Canadian Instituted of Health Research (2012), Canada has the 9th
highest rate of bullying in the 13 years old category among 35 countries which
is pretty high. I think that it is a serious matter as there have been 41
suicide cases since 2003 according to (CBC, news, 2012).
If Internet were
a playground, then cyberbullying would be like a hidden rattlesnake. One of the
biggest hard truths about cyber bullying in modern age is that it is not only
restricted to school playground, it is out there for the world to see just
because of the Internet. With the help of social networking sites and 24*7
access of internet through phone, rumours are shared worldwide.
I wonder why a
large number of users are being bullied on internet. According to Associated
Press (2013), 56% of young people aged between14-24 has reported harassment
online. There are number of reasons behind being bullied online. The most
important reason is unlimited access to internet. And the other reason is that
children find it easy to bully online than to face-to-face. 81% says that
bullying online is easier to get away with than bullying in person (Associated
Press, 2013).
Consequences of
bullying are terrible.
·
The person cyberbullying may be creating an unsafe environment by
making the target feel that he/she can’t go to school without facing violence,
teasing, or exclusion.
· Cyber bullied victims later may become bullies themselves.
· Cyber bullies may go to the state of depression. Depression is the
common consequence of cyber bullying.
·
There may be thoughts of suicide and ultimately suicide. There have
been many cases of suicides just because of cyber bullying.
·
Students may dread school which ultimately affect their grades.
·
Internet can make anyone reputation good or bad in a short period of
time. Malicious rumours can make a bad reputation of someone. (Carpenter,
2102)
There have been
many serous cases of cyber bullying. Like the case of Amanda Todd, where she
was blackmailed by a guy who threatened her. Ultimately she got into a state of
depression where she started consuming lot of alcohol and drugs. She then also
attempted a suicide. She almost faced all the consequences of cyber bullying.
There are more cases like Laura Szendrei, Shariah Casper who were bullied more
online after their incident.
How
cyberbullying can be reduced? Well there are couple of ways in which we can
stop or reduce to being this happen.
·
You should be aware of what your kids are doing online.
·
Don’t reply to the incidents of cyber bullying. You may be their next
target.
·
·
Report incidents of cyber bullying to the ISP, or the website used in
the cyber bullying
.
·
If you are able to identify the bully, then complaint it to his/her
parents or the police
·
As a parent, spot the warning signs of cyber bullying.
·
Stop responding to bully messages. Bullies always want a response from
their targets, so firing back a text will only make things worse.
·
Try to block the bully from all your accounts.
·
Change the privacy settings. Don’t reveal your address, contact number,
email address, real name etc.
·
Don’t wait too long to ask any help. If you are being bullied, then complain
immediately to the website or police.
·
Every school has a policy of dealing with bullies because it is
mandatory for them as per law.
·
Parents can keep track upon their child internet history.
·
Encourage your children for what pictures and movies they should see.
·
Never share your internet password, except you.
·
Mind your tone on internet because these fights can turn you into a
situation where you are cyber bullying someone or you are being cyber bullied.
·
Cyber bullying can be addressed under federal laws. However, different
provinces have different laws regarding cyber bullying.
·
In Ontario, Education Act allows you to specially deal with cyber
bullying.
(prevenet.ca),
(stopbullying.gov)
How Privacy and Bullying complement and contrast each other?
Privacy and bullying exists due to each other. Privacy breach leads to cyber
bullying. Since privacy breach leaks all the personal information of users,
thus can be used to harass or threaten someone like in the case of Amanda Todd
where the hacker made an fake profile and contacted all her family members and
friends and posted her photos.
I think that
bullying is the ultimate consequence of privacy breach. The similarity in them
is that they both are being done in virtual environment that is internet. Even
though they are on virtual, they can take life of many people such as suicide.
Government and other organisations are taking serious steps to stop privacy
breach and bullying. As they both are present just because of each other. Users
are able to bully someone due to availability of personal information and
privacy breach occurs due to the purpose of cyber bullying. Another thing that
complements each other is that it is very hard to find out who is taking your
private information and who is bullying you? As the biggest consequence of
bullying is death and biggest consequence of privacy breach is bullying.
I don’t know
why websites are spying on us, collecting data and selling it to third parties.
Did anyone know if the third party is trustable? Can we really rely on them
when it comes to our personal information? The problem of privacy breach that
ultimately turns into cyber bullying is very serious. This could even turn into
a cyber-war that will be disastrous for all of us. Do you think that what these
websites are doing is right? I am sure not. It’s completely unethical to sell
someone’s personal information to a third party for money. I think that media
should also be blamed for that. Most of the times, media also don’t care about
someone privacy and telecast freely on their channel. The main target of media
is celebrities. They literally telecast everything that is going on in
celebrity’s life. Well I think that it encourages others to peep into each
other life which is a very bad thing for the society. Nowadays media is only
thing that changes people’s perception. According to AVG survey, most of the
employees have eroded workplace privacy through social media by posting
pictures, statuses on social media. Not only privacy breach can lead to cyber
bullying if the information is in some wrong hands, but it can also give rise
to other crime like theft. Suppose you post a status “enjoying in the sands of
San Diego” and your status is public, criminal nowadays seek for these types of
opportunities. This status will mean to them is that you are not at home and
this is the perfect time to break into your house. Users should change their
privacy setting of what should be shared and what should not be. Privacy breach
can also harm to company for whom you are working for.
Privacy and
bullying go hand in hand. Without privacy breach, bullying online is very
difficult. There are many cases where victims have been blackmailed for money. That’s
all cyber bullying. Government and users should take some serious steps to get
away from this situation. Government should regulate rules and regulation for
websites regarding their selling someone’s personal information to third
parties. Government should make ensure how information is used by the users. They
should make strict law against person who bullies online. Ultimately, they
should do take steps regarding privacy because privacy breach leads to bullying.
Users should check their privacy settings of what should be shared or not.
Here is a video you should watch on how private information can be used in cyber bullying:
Here is a video you should watch on how private information can be used in cyber bullying:
References:
·
Carpenter, R. (2102, October 21). 5 consequences of cyberbullying.
Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/5-consequences-cyberbullying-7000794.html?cat=41
·
Douglas, S. (2012, March 8). Internet privacy: It's a
complicated issue. Retrieved from http://learnthenet.org/2012/03/08/internet-privacy-its-a-complicated-issue/
·
Hershorn, H. (21012, February 20). Cyberbullying warning signs.
Retrieved from http://kiwicommons.com/blog.php?p=10805&tag=cyberbullying-warning-signs
·
Jonsenn, C. (n.d.). Internet privacy. Retrieved
from http://www.techopedia.com/definition/24954/internet-privacy
·
Legal consequences of cyberbullying.
(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/cyber-bullying/legal-consequences
- Molcho M., Craig W., Due P., Pickett W., Harel-fisch Y., Overpeck, M., and HBSC Bullying Writing Group. Cross-national time trends in bullying behaviour 1994-2006: findings from Europe and North America. International Journal of Public Health. 2009, 54 (S2): 225-234
·
Nsa busted spying with big internet
companies – the prism program conspiracy. (2013, June 8). Retrieved from
http://conspiracygrimoire.com/nsa-busted-spying-with-major-internet-companies-the-conspiracy-is-real-the-prism-program/
·
Rainie, L., Kiesler, S., Kang, R., & Madden,
M. (2013, September 5). Anonymity, privacy, and security online. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/09/05/anonymity-privacy-and-security-online/
·
Survey finds canadians apathetic about
online privacy.
(2013, August 28). Retrieved from
http://www.cira.ca/news/news-releases/survey-finds/
