The concept of digital communication developed much with advanced technology. Digital electronics and the internet improved the speed of communication and accessibility to a broader audience. According to Tufts University Relations (n.d.), one advantage of digital messaging is the speed with which one receives a response from the recipient. One issue that cropped up is the privacy and confidentiality of users of these sites. Social media, for example, has all the details that can expose an individual compared to other channels of communications such as emails. More private conversations have no threats with location updates due to the privacy and confidentiality terms of their use.
The revelation of locations, what one does, and other private details available on social media platforms are the risks to an individual’s security. Information about site can be critical to people who mean to harm the users of social media platforms (Ignatowicz et al., 2018). Such data makes it easy to track and follow specific people. In most instances, people who plan attacks use social media for vigilance and trails. When going through this, I researched and understood why revealing too much information is not safe for users. I had to change my way of communication online and how I make my posts. One of the things I do is ensuring that my location is not revealed every time I use social media. Instances where I reveal my location are rare, only if I give critical updates, such as sharing a map or directions. I am now more comfortable than before if I communicate on digital media.
Question to Peers
Have you ever wondered how the security organs of the government use location updates to track offenders? How does it happen?
References
Ignatowicz, A., Slowther, A.-M., Elder, P., Bryce, C., Hamilton, K., Huxley, C., Forjaz, V., Sturt, J., & Griffiths, F. (2018). Ethical implications of digital communication for the patient-clinician relationship: Analysis of interviews with clinicians and young adults with long term conditions (the LYNC study). Biomedical Ethics, 19(11). Web.
Tufts University Relations. (n.d.). Social media overview. Web.