Privacy on and offline

In a world where every scroll, click, and search leaves behind a digital footprint, protecting your privacy is no longer a choice, it is essential. Today, we live in a world where simply sitting and scrolling on social media or making a search on Google is no longer a private activity. Instead, companies are watching and tracking all of our digital moves to collect data on us, send targeted ads to our devices, and sell our information to third parties. 

Just think of how many apps you have on your phone and how many times you use them. According to recent research, the average smartphone user opens at least 10 apps a day and 30 apps per month. Imagine how much information companies can collect from your app usage each day. 

The topic of online privacy is especially relevant to people in my generation who have grown up in this digital age. I remember being ecstatic to receive my first phone at just seven years old. Although it could only do two things: call and text, I cannot begin to imagine how much information I have given up and how many problematic terms I have unknowingly agreed to over the past twelve years: my number, address, email, birthdate, name, etc. 

How to protect your privacy

Although it is difficult to escape the internet in our technology-focused society, there are a few steps you can take to protect your privacy online. 

Read the terms: Can you remember how many times you've actually read the terms and conditions of an app or website? I can: zero. It is extremely easy to skip over long and hard-to-read contracts when using a new app. However, when you do, you can miss terms such as Meta's ability to use your content to train their AI systems. By simply taking the time to read over the terms, you can save yourself from entering into binding contracts that allow companies to make malicious use of your information and content. 

Evaluate the trade-offs and benefits: By reading the terms and conditions, you can also make informed decisions about what apps you are using. Are the benefits you gain from using it worth giving up certain information and having it potentially sold or used? If not, do not use that product and find alternatives.

What should the government do?

Enforce the rules/laws: Although the US does have some laws in place to protect our online privacy, they are limited, vague, and not as enforced as they should be. For example, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) requires companies to obtain parental consent to collect information from children under 13. However, there are many ways to get around this law, many companies are not in compliance with it, and there are minimal, ineffective punishments. By enforcing stricter, more specific laws and consistently punishing companies who don't comply, the government would help ensure that all citizens' online privacy is protected.