In an era characterized by technological proliferation, the norm of depositing personal and private details for socializing or banking has become increasingly common. This essay aims to delve into the ramifications of this phenomenon and advocate for its development despite contentious debate.
On one hand, the application of personal information into daily activities has triggered several merits. First and foremost, it displays high levels of convenience. To be specific, users solely employ their confidential information for verifying their accounts instead of going through lengthy processes as previously done. Furthermore, in the context of Vietnam, for instance, with the assistance of e-commerce giants such as Lazada, Shoppee, Tiki, and so on, consumer behaviors have revolutionized, which facilitates effortless purchasing and financial transactions. In the long run, not only does this enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction, but also allow for real-time interactions and more business opportunities. More importantly, the increased presence of personal data online has triggered social connections. Using private information on social media platforms enables individuals to reconnect with each other immediately irrespective of insurmountable geographical barriers, which was incredibly challenging in the past. Additionally, it can strengthen the bond between people who have the same interest, experience and mindset.
Despite these compelling arguments, this tendency inherently harbors some loopholes, and chief among these is privacy and data insecurity. This perspective is predicated on the fact that an increasing number of private accounts are prone to be hacked nowadays, leading to more serious implications. To cite an example, personal information robbed by malicious organizations can be misused for dark webs and other fraudulent schemes. In some worse cases, the hackers are likely to impersonate the users’ identity to claim insurance and commit embezzlement. Location-based threats are another concern worth mentioning. To demonstrate, when sharing photos, especially on social media platforms, they may contain geotags revealing the precise locations. Burglars or stalkers can exploit this information to track our movements, discover our habits or even identify our home address, which results in a sense of annoyance and insecurity. Nevertheless, it is imperative to acknowledge that these tribulations can be assuaged or even preempted by the users’ caution and stricter cybersecurity protocols. Avoiding oversharing on social media, considering a password manager or reviewing privacy settings are some of the solutions to mitigate its harmful effects.
All in all, the debate over using personal and private information in daily life has sparked passionate discussions. Albeit few disagreements over this development, I am convinced that this phenomenon would yield promising results for the individuals and the societies as a whole. It can improve the levels of convenience and comfort for the users as well as foster a more connected and inclusive society.