The crazy created frenzy for Facebook all started in 2004. While it only started out to be a social network for one specific college, it wouldn’t be long until it spread like wildfire across the globe. Facebook allows us to keep in contact with friends and family who are near and far by sharing memories, photos, and even videos. While social network sites allow for exciting new forms of communication, they also open new avenues for privacy violations and other social dangers.
One of the most alarming privacy violations that social media exposes users to is cyberstalking. According to Wikipedia,
Cyberstalking is a form of cyberbullying, and the terms are often used interchangeably in the media. Both may include false accusations, defamation, slander, and libel. Cyberstalking may also include monitoring, identity theft, threats, vandalism, solicitation for sex, or gathering information that may be used to threaten or harass. Cyberstalking is often accompanied by realtime or offline stalking. Both are criminal offenses.
Cyberstalkers often find their victims online using online forums, discussion boards, chat rooms, and more recently and popular, through social network sites such as Facebook. Since cyberstalking is a form of cyberbullying, the impacts it can have on its victims is extremely harsh. Before technology, there were playground bullies. Names to go with faces. Since Facebook and other social media websites, bullies and stalkers remain faceless and cause far more harm. Another avenue is location disclosure. When going on vacation to Florida or out of the country, it is not a good idea to disclose this type of information on social media as it allows even the people you don’t want to know, to know. In his essay “Privacy Is Overrated,” David Plotz comments that “To be less private sometimes is to have more privacy. To be less private is to be more ourselves” (70). His expression is simply explaining that by surrendering some privacy while revealing our humanity, a much greater privacy is gained. Catfishing is probably the most popular social danger in social networking. According to the University of the Pacific,
Coined from the independent film "Catfish," which follows a filmmaker who discovers the truth about the online relationship he has been conducting with a woman whom he has never met, "catfishing" occurs when a user creates a false or highly-exaggerated social media profile for the purposes of conducting a relationship online. Some profiles are created out of boredom or loneliness, while others are created to exact revenge or cause embarrassment to the targeted party.
The most common indicators of catfishing are constant excuses for not being able to talk on the phone, meet in person, or use another social media website such as Skype to video call. Usually, once the relationship becomes too intense, the catfish will often have a sudden life-threatening illness or if faced with other threats, the catfish will end the relationship. This has caused extreme heartbreak for a lot of users, especially when it comes to online dating sites such as Plenty of Fish, or Match.com. These sites give people the perfect opportunity to have an online relationship. Social networking sites have also impacted schooling and employment. While most interview preparation used to only consist of updating a resume, ironing a professional outfit, and rehearsals, it is probably a good idea to either clean up