Online Privacy and Social Networking

Online privacy, also known as internet privacy or digital privacy, refers to the right or mandate of personal privacy concerning the storing, repurposing, provision to third parties, and displaying of information pertaining to oneself via the Internet.

Data Collection

Social media companies business models are often based on collecting user data to sell targeted advertising. Data collected includes:

• Demographics: Age, gender, location.
• Interests: Pages liked, groups joined.
• Behavior: How long you look at a post, what you click.
• Connections: Who your friends are.

Major Controversies

Cambridge Analytica (2018)

This was a major political scandal where Cambridge Analytica harvested the personal data of millions of people's Facebook profiles without their consent and used it for political advertising purposes. The events sparked a global conversation about ethical standards for social media companies.

Privacy Settings

Most platforms offer privacy settings, allowing users to:

• Make their profile private (only approved followers can see content).
• Turn off activity status.
• Limit who can comment or message them.
• Download their data to see what the company knows about them.

Best Practices

• Use strong, unique passwords.
• Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
• Be mindful of what you share publicly (location tagging, personal details).
• Review app permissions.