The past decade has been like nothing humanity has ever seen. With the rise of the internet and social media, it seems as though everybody’s life is up for display for everyone else to see. It hasn’t always been like that, though. In the past, privacy was much more prevalent. It seems as though the people of the 21st century have shifted their mindset into one that is becoming increasingly unfastened. While this new way of thinking brings obvious improvements to everyday social life, it also gives rise to numerous concerns.

Privacy on the Internet

It has become increasingly difficult to maintain a modicum of privacy in the online world. Any tiny detail that is uploaded to the internet stays on there forever. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough awareness being spread about this subject.

When you upload a beach selfie to Instagram, you are giving away more information than you think. Combined with details that can be obtained about you from other social platforms, it can be incredibly easy for a cyber-stalker to track you down. According to research conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), cases of cyberstalking are steadily growing with each passing year. In 2019, in a well-known case, a woman was almost assaulted by a man who broke into her house. The man had allegedly been monitoring her online activity and using it to plan his attack accordingly. Fortunately, the police were called before any harm could be done.

Another interesting online phenomenon is targeted advertising. Vendors and companies will collect insane amounts of data about their users and use it to deliver relevant ads. This can include the users’ search histories, physical location, online orders, and much more. This data is then sold off to data brokers who are free to utilize it as they please. The problem lies there, however. Most users are not aware of just how much footprint they’re leaving online, let alone the nefarious purposes to which it is being deployed. It brings some hope to see certain companies like Apple taking an adamant stance against privacy violations. This can be mostly seen with the latest release of iOS which now gives users the choice to block certain tracking software, in addition to numerous privacy and security features. While it is still not enough, it is definitely a positive step forward.

Privacy at Home

In light of the virus that has been circling the globe for over a year, people have been staying at home now more than ever. On the bright side, the extra time being spent indoors serves as a reminder to how relieving a private lifestyle can be.

When it comes to home building and planning, an increasing number of residents are opting for private recreational facilities – like home theaters and private pools – over public ones such as in a resort. These private facilities take the phrase “comfort of your own home” to the next level. They might also prove to be more cost-effective investments in the long-term. If you can find a DIY gazebo or a pool builder near me, you’re ready to go. Research has also indicated that those who lead a healthy and comfortable life at their residence are more likely to perform better in their career life and experience lower stress in general.

Yet another advancement that can be seen in the building sector is the installment of smart home equipment. It seems as though there is now a “smart” version of every home appliance out there. While these appliances can make home life easier through task automation and coordination, they still present numerous privacy and security concerns. A clear exhibition of this is smart speakers. These speakers serve as a conduit between us and the rest of our appliances, but also as a backdoor for big institutions to invade our personal lives. In 2019, a group of activists tried to shed light on the problems with these speakers and how they can be manipulated to spy on their users. It was shown that certain speaker manufacturers keep track of all the queries made by users and save them to their servers.

Conclusion

It is crucial for all members of modern society to take a step back and put more focus on the importance of their personal privacy and safety, whether online, at home, in the workplace, or anywhere else. It is also important for activists to speak up and arrange events to spread awareness about this emerging problem. Not only will this make society a safer and more welcoming place, but it will also teach individuals to stand for themselves when their privacy is being violated. After all, being educated is the best form of well-being, is it not?