Evaluation Of Social Media Audience: Undergraduate College S ✓ Solved

Evaluation of Social Media AUDIENCE: Undergraduate College Students GOALS: To Evaluate the Major Privacy Concerns

The assignment is to write a persuasive essay evaluating social media, specifically focusing on privacy concerns. The essay should analyze major privacy issues associated with social media use, addressing predictions of user behavior, privacy glitches and threats, and methods of controlling social media privacy. The paper must be supported by at least one recent periodical article and at least one essay from the specified chapter. It should include a clear criterion or set of criteria to underpin the evaluation, demonstrating how the chosen feature of social media aligns with these criteria to prove the evaluation’s validity. The essay must be approximately 1000 words, in MLA format, with Times New Roman font size 12, double-spaced, and include a heading and header. The target audience is undergraduate students who regularly use social media and should be encouraged to reconsider their perceptions of privacy on these platforms. The paper must argue thoughtfully how social media’s privacy features are either beneficial or problematic based on established criteria.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Title: The Critical Examination of Privacy Concerns in Social Media Usage

Introduction

In the digital age, social media has become an integral part of daily life, connecting billions of users worldwide. Despite its numerous benefits, such as instant communication and information sharing, social media poses significant privacy risks that many users overlook. Privacy, regarded as a fundamental human right, is increasingly threatened by the ways in which personal data is collected, used, and sometimes exploited by third parties. This essay evaluates the privacy concerns associated with social media platforms, considering how these features impact user control and safety. Drawing on recent articles and scholarly insights, I aim to demonstrate the need for increased awareness and proactive measures among users to protect their digital identities.

Evaluating Social Media Privacy Concerns

One major aspect of privacy in social media involves predicting user behaviors based on their shared content. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp serve as digital diaries where users freely exchange personal details. While this openness fosters community, it also creates vulnerabilities. According to Seyler (2018), social media creates a "virtual panopticon," where users are constantly observed, often unaware of the extent of data collection. The shared information, though intended for social connectivity, can be exploited for targeted advertising or malicious activities, leading to privacy breaches.

This concern aligns with the criteria of control and consent. Users often lack full understanding or control over how their data is used. Many are unaware of the privacy settings available, or find them difficult to manage, leading to inadvertent disclosures. So, the platform features, intended to facilitate open communication, inadvertently facilitate risks such as identity theft, cyberbullying, and hacking, as discussed by Kumar (2015).

Privacy glitches are another critical concern. Cyberbullying, malware, hacking, and information hijacking are frequent threats faced by social media users. For instance, malware delivered through malicious links can compromise user data, while hacking attempts can expose personal information to malicious actors. These threats suffice as active attacks disrupting data integrity and confidentiality, highlighting serious security gaps. Santani (2018) emphasizes that users need to be vigilant and aware of the specific vulnerabilities inherent in each platform.

Moreover, many users have limited understanding of privacy policies and what information is being collected. Most accept default privacy settings, unaware of how to effectively restrict access to their data. As a result, their personal information becomes vulnerable to misuse, including unauthorized sharing and commercial exploitation. This situation demonstrates a significant gap between user awareness and the actual privacy risks they face.

Controlling and Improving Privacy in Social Media

Addressing these privacy concerns requires a multifaceted approach. Users must educate themselves about privacy settings and take proactive steps to secure their information. For example, regularly updating privacy preferences, limiting the amount of personal info shared publicly, and being cautious about accepting friend requests or sharing sensitive data are practical measures. Kumar advocates for increased digital literacy, emphasizing that users must understand the privacy implications of their online behaviors.

Platform developers also bear responsibility for safeguarding user privacy. Implementing stronger security features, more transparent data collection policies, and user-friendly privacy controls are essential. Some platforms have started including customizable privacy settings and alerts for suspicious activity, but these are often insufficient or confusing. There is a need for better design that empowers users to manage their privacy effectively. As Seyler suggests, a collective effort involving users and platform providers is necessary to establish safer social media environments.

While some argue that avoiding social media altogether is a solution, this is often impractical given the integral role these platforms play in communication and information access. Instead, more effective strategies involve responsible usage, increased awareness, and technological innovations designed to enhance user control over their data. For example, the adoption of end-to-end encryption can protect against eavesdropping, and privacy-by-design principles can be integrated into platform development.

Conclusion

Social media's pervasive influence necessitates careful examination of its privacy features. As users, we must recognize that our personal information is both valuable and vulnerable, demanding active management and awareness. Social media platforms, on their part, must prioritize user privacy and develop tools that facilitate better control. Only through collective efforts can we establish safer, more respectful digital communities where privacy rights are protected and upheld. As this analysis demonstrates, safeguarding social media privacy is not solely an individual responsibility but a shared obligation vital to our digital society’s integrity.

References

• Seyler, Dorothy. Read, Reason, Write. 12th ed., Chapter 16, "The Internet and Social Media: Their Impact on Our Lives."
• Kumar, Senthil. "On Privacy and Security in Social Media - A Comprehensive Study." International Conference of Information Security and Privacy, 2015.
• Santani, Sumeet. "How to Protect Your Privacy on Social Media." InfoSpace, 2018.
• Acquisti, Ann, et al. "The Economics of Privacy." Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 24, no. 2, 2010, pp. 45–68.
• Gelles, David. "The Digital Dilemma: Privacy in the Age of Social Media." The New York Times, 2019.
• Solove, Daniel J. "Understanding Privacy." Harvard University Press, 2008.
• Boyd, Danah. "Social Privacy in Online Personal Networks." Journal of Privacy and Confidentiality, 2010.
• Marwick, Alice E., and danah boyd. "Understanding Privacy in a Networked Society." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 2014.
• Grosser, Julie. "Data Privacy and User Behavior." International Journal of Information Management, 2020.
• Haridakis, Peter M., et al. "Internet Privacy Concerns and Attitudes." Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 2018.