When Privacy Is non-existent (Social Networking)

In this age where everything about anyone goes onto the Facebook platform, it seems that the privacy is almost non-existent. The fact that what you post on Facebook may actually count against you or even come back to haunt you doesn’t seem enough to warrant the top stop in most people’s list of concerns.

This fact shows up prominently in a RazorTV interview as well as Straits Time Special Report published in it’s Online and print editions.

Granted, the cases in the article are mostly cases of malingering. For example, calling in sick so that they could party, not considering that there is chance that photos of them at the party could  surface on Facebook… One was fired while another was given a warning by their respective superiors.

You could say that they deserved it. However, if we look past the malingering fact,  a few of these cases involve photos that were not uploaded by them.

Would this constitute as an invasion of one’s privacy? Or is it the photographer’s/possessor’s right to the photo and upload it as he/she deems fit?

With companies now searching for and going through their potential employees’ Facebook accounts, and with more and more people citing Facebook in court documents, uploading photos shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially when you’re not even in the photo itself. The simple desire to share a photo of your friend may just have “unwanted side-effects”.

At this juncture, you may be saying:

“That’s b/s.. You’re thinking too much.!”

However the statement:

“Doesn’t mean that something that doesn’t happen often wouldn’t happen”…

…applies here.

I do think that sharing photos is a way of showing people your life, and a nice souvenir shared between the parties involved.. However,  before you upload your next photo on Facebook,  take a step back and think of the impact it will have. If in doubt, especially if it’s a photo of someone else, ask first, then upload.

References:

• The Straits Times, Page A6, “The truth is out there – on Facebook”, 21 December 2009

EDIT: Further Reads

• (27/12/2009) Privacy Theater: Why Social Networks Only Pretend To Protect You (http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/12/27/privacy-theater/)