Are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook?

Topic chosen: Issue 5: Facebook Privacy, Personal Data Protection Regulation, Ethical Publishing.

Facebook is a social networking website for people to stay connected with friends, family, and business associates. Facebook is now the largest networking sites with approximately 500 million users (Myers, 2010). There are many reasons why Facebook made it to be the largest networking sites. It is very simple to operate, users can simply create a profile page and friends can easily search for them via email addresses. Users can upload and share unlimited photos, update their status, write on their peers 'wall', countless of applications to add onto your profile and more.

However, the world most popular networking site has been recently dodged by complaints regarding privacy protection. Facebook has admitted that some of its applications have been transmitting user information to advertising companies (Facebook admits privacy breach, 2010). Popular applications in Facebook were found accessing its users' profiles and acquiring their information, and even their friend's information. Facebook's response towards the issue was to assure users that they will introduce new technology to overcome the violation. Moreover, applications that contravene its terms will be disabled.

However, the questions that arise the minds of many would be, are we being too comfortable about sharing our privacy on Facebook? Is it safe to do so? Should the younger generation be educated about this subject? Are Facebook users aware that all their updates posted on the website for their small group of friends can be viewed by anyone through the Internet search engine? Although users can choose to customize privacy settings in their profile, many users were not aware of that and hence, revealing personal information without acknowledging it (Herald, 2010).

Nevertheless, with all these growing complaints concerning the users' privacy, Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook finally announced that the social networking site's privacy settings will very soon be simplified (Herald, 2010). However, according to Heather Kelly (2010), these Facebook apps that are secretly added to your profile without you knowing cannot be stopped by just checking a few boxes in your privacy settings. While it is still not entirely apparent that what information are these apps trying to acquire from users profiles, Facebook users should be careful. Click on the following link to learn how to block these blameworthy applications: How to block Facebook applications.

Let us all surf safe, and surf smart!

Till next time!




References:


ABC News. (2010). Facebook Admits Privacy Breach. Available: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/19/3042594.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.

Heather, K. (2010). Facebook's New Features Secretly Add Apps To Your Profile. Available: http://www.macworld.com/article/151087/2010/05/facebook_addingapps.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.

Herald, D. (2010). No privacy: Your indiscreet Facebook updates are now public. Available: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/75864/no-privacy-your-indiscreet-facebook.html. Last accessed 13th October 2010.

Myers, J. (2010). What Is Facebook?. Available: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-facebook.htm. Last accessed 13th October 2010.

Say no to sexism ads!

Topic chosen: Issue 3: Advertising code of ethics, meaning, cultural/ situational context and representation.


Superficial, offensive, disturbing, discriminating and unethical, would be my words to describe advertisements involving sexism. Sexism in advertising has been around for the longest time we could possibly imagine. What is it that people seem to not get enough of this offensive genre of advertisements? Why are women constantly being taken advantage of in everyday advertisements? It appears that advertisements no longer having the objective to show their products, but rather portray gimmicks to sell their products (Sadiq, 1997). And often, women are being discriminated in advertisements.

Below are some examples of advertisements discriminating women from the 1960s to the present:

Image source: http://www.oddee.com/item_96674.aspx

Image source: http://www.oddee.com/item_96674.aspx

Image source: http://bullmurph.com/tag/sexist-ads/

Don't these advertisements occur to you to be offensive and direspectful? Most of the people probably come to accept or get use to seeing sexism content in advertisements. Some people may feel offended or intimidated but would not express their disapproval in anyway accept keeping it upon themselves. According to Kathryn Perera (2010), people are afraid that they might be accused of over-reaction if they ever voice out their concerns. Although sexism in advertisement may already seem like a norm to most people, that does not mean advertisements can still take advantages by portraying women in the most disrespectful way they can think of.

Good news that there is an organization called the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) that acts as the independent regulator of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. Not so good news is that the rules they enforces are written by the advertising industry itself (Perera, 2010). However, if consumers find any advertisements offensive, they can simply file complaints to the ASA. And if the organization finds the complaint reasonable, actions will then be taken.

In order to make our complaints about sexist and objectifying campaigns significant to the ASA, consumers have to come together and file more complaints. ASA will then take actions and formally judge those particular advertisements. Thus, we should use our power to influence change through activism (Perera, 2010). We shan't allow these offensive, sex discriminating advertisements to step in our way, or our sight any longer.

To conclude, consumers should bear in mind that we have the power to have our own judgment and make reasonable choices of our own. Say no to sexism ads! So, stand up, take actions and prove that sexism does not sell.

References:

Perera, K. (2010). Time To Kick Sexism Out of Advertising. Available: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/29/kick-sexism-out-of-advertising#history-link-box#history-link-box. Last accessed 10th October 2010.

Sadiq, S. (1997). Racism and Sexism in Advertising. Available: http://www.deltacollege.edu/org/deltawinds/DWOnline97/racismandsexisminads.html. Last accessed 10th October 2010.