The Importance of Digital Privacy

Digital privacy, or more so the lack of it, is something that I have been cautioned about ever since I was a child. Parents and teachers lectured me and my fellow classmates on how, once something was on the internet, it stayed there forever. No matter how fast you take down a post, there is no way of knowing who already saw it and possibly screenshotted it in some way that immortalizes the content in a fashion that you no longer have control over. The worst part is that this is only a surface level recognition of a larger problem with technology's vast span of features. There is a deeper web of tactics used by the government and other outside parties to hold your data and use it however they want, most of the time without your informed consent. 

What you post online, primarily on social media platforms, gives the world access to almost everything they need to know about you. Information about family, work, and even personal hobbies is scattered online with every Facebook update or Snapchat story. If not careful, you could be handing out sensitive data that is meant to remain private like credit card details or information about your kids that could easily be exploited by potential predators or con artists online. In his TedTalk, Juan Enriquez refers to our social media presence as a "digital tattoo". The same way that a tattoo can tell a passerby a lot about an individual, so can what is shared online with the entire world. That is why it's important for us to limit/monitor what we post about so that we can protect both ourselves and our loved ones. 

Everyone who has an online presence is at risk of having their data stored, shared, and even stole by tech companies and other scammers. Whether you like it or not the government probably already has a mini file on you that they keep tucked in their back pocket in case the future ever calls for it. They accomplish this through hidden technology in your devices and other governmental surveillance technology like license plate scanners. Local law enforcement have immense power at their fingertips the moment they learn that they can use federal equipment to gather data they believe could be used one day to serve justice. Despite the benefits that this may have in hard-to-solve cases, the lack of informed knowledge of the general public of the government's hidden motives. To counteract this phenomena, the government should be as transparent as possible with how they utilize their instruments and only hold onto the information of high risk profilers. 

The good news, for our phones anyway, is that nowadays software companies are working hard to implement encryption features into their networking so that user data remains private and cannot be accessed by outside parties, even the owners of the software. Some of these platforms include Apple and WhatsApp whole install encryption software as a default in their products so that user information is protected from anyone trying to access private messages. 

The key step in preventing any unnecessary intrusion on your data is to educate yourself with how you may be at risk and the resources that can help you prevent unknown hackers from stealing your information. The internet has a lot of different articles about helpful tips like these so that you can stay ahead of the game and take proactive measures to ensure you are practicing safe online habits. Caution should be applied to anyone who wants to post something on the internet so that no valuable information is on danger of being abused. 

As I had touched on earlier, I grew up in an age where technology is commonly seen in all areas of my life; at home with my flatscreen tv where I would watch my favorite cartoons, my aunt's ipad I would play on every summer vacation, and a telephone of my own that was a long awaited gift for my 10th birthday. Although my generation and after are blessed with the technological advancements that gift an infinite source of opportunity, along with it comes an infinite amount of things that could potentially go wrong if used misguidedly. Especially nowadays, watching kids grow up in a time where they're born practically glued to the screen, it's important to limit screen use and ensure that it is only being used for educational reasons until the kids are old enough to use their devices responsibly.  

Free Expression Reflection

The Marketplace of Ideas, introduced by John Milton, is a powerful phenomena that rewards the truth no matter the lies that surround it. The idea is that truth and deceit will dance around one another in a battle for the top. However, no matter the strength of the intervention, the truth will rise above. If anything, the battle between good and evil actually strengthens the truth when everything is all said and done. 

Mostly seen in court trials and political disputes, the truth prevails despite outside efforts to hide and cover it up with lies and half-truths that deter from the main issue. The truth is not always easy to find, but it only takes on slip up or just one incoherent clue to destroy a whole web of lies. Continuous counter arguments and investigation of evidence establishes a forum where many individual pieces overlap and are cross referenced to give a detailed and accurate timeline of events. If one detail is off, the truth has already won. 

One area that I see the Marketplace of Ideas spring into action is in the case of divorce. I'm not referring to divorces that end on common ground where the two parties peacefully separate and, if children are involved, work together to provide for the child in a healthy coparenting environment. Coming from a divorced family where the first priority on everyone's minds has always been to protect their own image, the truth tends to get lost in the cutting edge detailed designed to target the "opponent" and ruin their integrity. 

The case of Gohil v. Gohil (2015) is a prime example of a divorce case where the law works diligently to ensure that truth triumph and the proper consequences are dealt. To summarize, in Gohil v. Gohil a couple goes to court because the wife believes that the husband was not fully disclosing his financial assets in accordance with the approved divorce proceedings. The husband originally stated that any of his side transactions belonged to his parents and not himself. The Marketplace of Ideas had revealed that not only was the husband keeping aside money of his own, but he was also a part of some criminal activity on top of that. If it were not for the wife's instance to push past his lies, the court would not have been aware of the additional violations being committed. 

Divorce has left a mark on nearly half the United States population of children as growing studies show that 50% of children will be the result of a separated household. The neurological impact of such a big change in a kid's life has the potential to leave a scarring mark on the child's ability to interact with others and resolve conflict as they mature in their adult years. Bringing acknowledgement to the harm that a messy divorce can have on youth is essential in teaching divorced parents how to put aside their differences if they want what's best for the child. 

The truth can be difficult to pinpoint if it is clouded by a mirage of falsities and deception. However, hope is not entirely lost. There is only so much manipulation that can be done before there is no choice but for the truth to come out. Additionally, in our day-and-age of technology, it's difficult for things to stay secret for long. It only takes one sneaky reporter to shine light on the real story. 

My Top 5 Sources of News

1. Social Media  

Despite the continuous jab about using social media as a new source, the algorithms used are effective in spreading topics to a larger audience than if it were only displayed on a news channel. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and even Snapchat love to give out tiny pieces of information, just juicy enough to compel the viewer into wanting to know more. Most of my knowledge about any relevant news/topics comes from these social media handles simply because they are the most accessible and entertaining methods that grab your attention and keep you hooked. 

2. Google 

Google's vast ocean of information is what makes it such a target for any confused individual wanting to know anything about any topic that has ever existed. Because it has so much data across its multiverse of websites and hyperlinks, Google frames itself as the "be all, know all" of the internet. As a kid I was always relieved when I saw my answer at the top of the Google page in its own box because that's how I knew I had found what I was looking for. It's not entirely accurate to say that Google is a perfect source of media, but it certainly is a great tool that, when used right, can be a valuable resource in almost every occasion. 

3. Family Members 

From finding out there's no school because of snow to knowing if a store was actually closing for good, when I wanted to know if something was true, I would run to my family for the answer. Both my mom and my cousin have been some of my most prominent forms of receiving information. Sometimes, hearing news from a familiar face that you trust makes it easier to digest an outrageous piece of information. If I'm unsure about something I hear in the news, one of my first instincts is to double check what I hear with someone I know and trust completely, giving me a slight ease of mind on something that would otherwise leave me skeptical. 

4. Local News Stations 

Growing up less than an hour from Boston, there were a couple of news stations that had become a staple on my living room TV. WCVB Channel 5 and NBC10 Boston were on practically every morning. I enjoy local stations because they provide updates that are more meaningful and relevant to a person because they show news that more directly impacts the viewer based on their surroundings. This is one of the ways I can get a better sense of what is happening around me and keeps me connected to the outside world in a easier way. 

5. The New York Times 

The New York Times is a timeless creation that has been publishing the latest news for over a century now. Over time, they have transformed from one of the most popular newspapers to a modern media sensation that not only shares reliable news articles but also has a series of additions such as games (Wordle, Connections, etc.) and comedy strips. To this day, I still use The New York Times when I'm looking for details on the newest updates on current global affairs.