PERSPECTIVE
The Peak team on privacy versus Internet validation.
ThePeak on privacy versus Internet validation.
NO
I DO NOT NEED SOCIAL MEDIA TO VALIDATE MY EXISTENCE, BUT I AM FULLY AWARE OF THE FALLIBILITY OF MEMORY. AN EVENT MIGHT HAVE OCCURRED, BUT WITH NO RECOLLECTION OF IT, DID IT? THE AFFECTED INDIVIDUAL WOULD BE OBLIVIOUS. IN THAT SOCIAL MEDIA ACTS AN ARCHIVE THAT CAN BE ACCESSED ANYWHERE, ANY TIME, IT, LIKE PRINTED PHOTOS OF YORE, BOOKMARKS OUR PLACE IN TIME, AND HOLDS US TO TRUTHS WE MAY WANT, OR WISH TO, FORGET. – JC
Former Google design ethicist Tristan Harris likens smartphones to slot machines: With social media, for instance, each press of a button is like the pull of a lever, and every “like” you receive is like a small reward. That’s how addiction forms. And I admit, that’s probably what keeps me posting images of fun evenings out, holidays and random great-outfit days. I might be hooked on those “like”induced highs, but, hey, it’s probably a lot cheaper than being a casino regular. – LK
Internet slang puts it succinctly in four letters: NPNT or “no picture, no talk”. Social media has become much like an open-book diary today, and if there’s no posting of the most exciting moments (say, a selfie with the celebrity chef you supposedly bumped into), then there’s going to be some doubt. Better still with Instagram/Facebook stories for the timestamp. – JT
YES
SOCIAL MEDIA IS NOTHING MORE THAN A HANDY ARCHIVAL TOOL, BUT, IN SOME CASES, HAS EVOLVED INTO A CRUTCH FOR EXPRESSION. THE BEST STORIES ARE STILL THOSE TOLD IN PERSON, AND NO SCREEN IS GOING TO ECLIPSE THAT ANY TIME SOON. – XJ
Privacy is underrated. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, it still makes a sound. It’s time to rethink what we share online, why we share it, and which corporations ultimately have control over the personal data we’re surrendering to the Interweb. – DK