Data Search

Even though I am constantly on social media, I am always surprised at the data they collect on me of things I often search. I find it disturbing how I am online shopping, Facebook or Instagram stores that data and places advertisements that are very similar to what I had looked into my feed. I am aware that everything I look up is being stored, yet I am always bothered by it when I realize what is going on, because then, how much privacy do we really have? Are we really 'safe'? Surely there is someone always listening and monitoring everything a person is doing and looking at. 

I have always been taught to be extremely careful on any and all social media platforms because once it has been sent to the world wide web, it is there forever. It took forever to convince my parents to let me have any type of social media platform, and when I did make one, I made sure to keep my location settings off for all of my platforms because I think it is extremely disturbing knowing that other people can easily find out what I am doing, where I am, and when. So I was not surprised to see that there was not much data on me. I am unsure why there was no data on me openly, but I am certain that Apple has the information of my location stored somewhere privately. 

It is absurd to think of how little privacy we truly have now because of social media and all the technology that has developed over the years. I am sure storing the data has some benefits to it for businesses and the government. Businesses can target their consumers based on the searches and interests people have. Governments can use the stored information to help protect their people. However, it is frustrating when you really think about it -all the conversations and online searches people do are all being constantly monitored. If the government claims that monitoring calls, texts, and web searches are for the safety of America, then why are mass shootings and suicide bombers so common? Surely the government is at least aware of what he or she is planning on doing, so why couldn't they prevent it from happening? Why are they not using this valuable data to help save and protect innocent lives from being taken? It is intriguing.