IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE PRIVACY OF INDIVIDUALS

Social media are interactive computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks. Some of the common features of Social Media are: Social media are interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications. User-generated content, such as text posts or comments, digital photos or videos, and data generated through all online interactions, is the lifeblood of social media. Users create service-specific profiles for the website or app that are designed and maintained by the social media organization. Social media facilitate the development of online social networks by connecting a user's profile with those of other individuals or groups Privacy rights advocates warn users on social media about the collection of their personal data. Some information is captured without the user's knowledge or consent through electronic tracking and third party applications. Data may also be collected for law enforcement and governmental purposes, by social media intelligence using data mining techniques. Data and information may also be collected for third party use. When information is shared on social media, that information is no longer private. There have been many cases in which young person’s especially, share personal information, which can attract predators.Social Media impacts the privacy of individuals to a great extent as most of the users are not aware how the information is shared or collected by a third party without the consent of the individuals. The use of social media has skyrocketed within the past 10 years. Social media networks, have allowed people all over the world to connect with friends, professionals, and strangers in a way that was previously non-existent. The introduction of social media sites has changed the way that people present information about themselves. There are people who use social media to promote businesses, there are people who only have a social media profile for networking, and there are those who use these profiles daily to update others about their lives. Because social media use is frequent, it is worth questioning if users are letting go of some privacy rights