Social Media: Research

My research topic narrowed in on more of the negative side of social media technologies today. More specifically, how social websites and some of their new applications are more or less an invasion of privacy. Social websites today offer a place for any user to establish an online identity. This identity is supposed to be concealed and available to only those of our privacy settings' choice. However, it is not well known that these sites log away information about each and every user weather it is public, private, or even deleted. On top of that passwords are easily hacked and sold to solicitors or even worse. Beggining with Myspace, social networking sites were basically an instant hit. It didnt take much for people to catch on to an innovative new method of communication and connection. It also didnt take much to drive these people away either. As spam advertisements soon took over random users profiles, it was clear that there was a need for a new social network. Facebook arrived just in time to satisfy the needs of the detoured Myspace users and basically take over the social networking game. Facebook has made many innovations to its trade. From sharable applications, to real time location based apps, Facebook seems to have it all. These location based apps however are the root issue on the topic of privacy. If an individual is able to be tracked and located by a device they are carrying, they then have virtually no privacy. It is features like this among other things that make these social media websites and applications an invasion of privacy.