According to ‘The Perils of Over-sharing in Social Networks’ by David Emm (2014), there are
increasing worries about the invasion of privacy while using social networks. Emm emphasizes that over-reliance on the internet will expose people to online criminals. The information which people are sharing online may be collected by the ‘prying eyes’ and poses potential threats against them offline. The article also mentions that people tend to overlook the danger while using mobile network devices. Since it is not a common aim of an attack, it creates a “false sense of security”. Various ways to minimise the risk has suggested by Emm include installing internet security software and using distinct passwords for different accounts.
What the article is trying to convey is not a totally foreign idea as cases of undesirable consequences caused by over-reliant on the social networks are clearly evident in people’s daily lives.
Most of the people indeed understand the negative impact of using social networks but they all believe such tragedy will not fall on them. The author uses examples to illustrate how harmless online posts can lead to negative consequences. As people’s social media is being closely but quietly monitored by their employers and government, they have no idea when will their comments be interpreted in a totally different way and used for a totally different purpose.
Emm mentions in his article that the information people choose to share online will affect their real lives. This is because people tend to believe the internet is an unrestrictive zone where they can freely express themselves. However, this is not true. The internet is regulated by various authorities. If they regard certain information as offensive, they might take actions against the uploader. In Yahoo news “ NUS student Sun Xun punished for ‘dog’ comment” by Sim (2012) proves that people have to bare the consequences for their insensitive comments posted on the internet. Even if the internet provides a convenient platform for people to exchange their thoughts, the users should still be careful about the information they shared online. Whatever goes online will not just be online.
Emm also mentions in his article that it is more risky to access internet through mobile devices. Due to the conveniency of smartphones and tablets, people are storing increasingly more personal information into such devices. In addition to that, there are actions taken unintentionally by the users which further expose themselves. Such actions include location enabling, in-app purchasing, and phone number verification. The consequence will be more severe if people use mobile devices for internet banking. Once the device is lost or stolen, it is impossible to safely retrieve the data back.
In conclusion, I agree with Emm's argument that over-reliance on the internet is dangerous. There are many loopholes on the internet security that criminals can take advantage off. Internet user's personal behavior such as over-sharing their personal information and inappropriate comments will further enhance the negative impact of using the internet.
Reference
David Emm. (2014, March 21). The Peril of Over-sharing in Social Networks [Web log post]
Retrieved from :
Sim. F (2012, March 27). NUS student Sun Xun punished for ‘dog’ comment. Yahoo News Singapore.
Retrieved from:
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinese-scholar-sun-xu-s-scholarship-terminated.html
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