The internet has revolutionized many facets of our lives, including communication and online purchases. However, to use various applications to connect with others or shop online, people are required to provide personal details on the internet. While this may offer convenience and a better user experience, I believe this development is negative as it leads to targeted advertisements and online frauds.
Inserting private information online can offer convenience as some shopping platforms use personal details to tailor their offerings to individual preferences; therefore, consumers do not have to spend much time browsing the net to find products of their preference. Moreover, this development can make connecting with others, such as friends, colleagues, and other like-minded people easier once social networking sites are fed with the user’s personal details, including location, age, and interests.
Despite these advantages, I believe this trend is negative as it leads to unauthorized collection, use, or sale of private information. Take Facebook, a social media platform. It generates revenue from advertisements, and its business model relies on user data to target advertisements effectively. Once signed up, the user is likely to be swamped by adverts on their Facebook page.
Even worse, putting personal details on the internet results in identity theft, financial frauds, and other forms of cyber crimes. Criminals use stolen information to impersonate individuals, open fraudulent accounts, and engage in other types of criminal activities. This causes significant harm to the individuals.
In conclusion, despite the conveniences and advantages inserting private information online offers, this development is negative as it causes individuals to fall victim to cyber criminals and to be targeted by advertising agencies on the platforms they use.