ONLINE PRIVACY

Have you ever heard of online privacy? It is undeniable that the online world has a significant impact on peoples’ lives in our world today Regardless of age, practically anyone can access the internet However, where there are benefits there can also be downsides. Many people may not realise the importance of the protection of your privacy online, which can cause many issues in the future if you are not aware and informed about it

Now some might wonder what exactly is online privacy in the first place? According to Winston & Strawn, the definition of online privacy is ‘the level of privacy protection an individual has while connected to the Internet It covers the amount of online security available for personal and financial data, communications, and preferences ’

Why is this important? Online privacy can actually negatively affect yourself and others around you in the real, physical world, not just online. A few examples of this include doxxing, swatting, harassment, and extortion You may have come across a few instances of these actually occurring to people, perhaps on platforms such as Twitter, Twitch, or YouTube Or it might even have happened to someone you know It could also happen to you as anyone can be vulnerable when they are online

You still might not be convinced of the true consequences of carelessly managing your online privacy. Which is why I will tell you all about it.

Doxxing is commonly known as the sharing or spreading of personal information publicly, usually done with malicious intent. This information can be your real name, home address, phone, workplace, financial, and other personal information Which can lead to other highly undesirable circumstances like swatting, extortion, and harassment towards the individual As for the degree of it, some of the things the people who were doxxed and harassed experienced can be downright terrifying for most people In some cases even real dangers such as in-person violence.

Nevertheless, there are several methods of preventing all this from happening Aura shares many great protection mechanisms such as using strong passwords and twofactor authentication, tightening privacy settings for your online accounts, and browsing online with a secure VPN Things like this are not a small matter and even though it’s not something to be constantly anxious about, it is good to be conscious of your online privacy concerns from time to time. After all, it’s always better to be safe than sorry You never know what could happen in the near, unpredictable future

Social media is like a drug I am sure that everyone has felt the need to check their social media before, this is a fact that we can all agree with. However, when does this urge become too much? If you feel like you must look at your phone every time you are free, check social media right after you wake up, before you go to bed, and during meals, this can be one of the many indications of a case of social media addiction

As you may already know, social media is incredibly addictive and there is hardly anyone who might not use social media on a frequent basis But there is a line you should not cross, a line in the form of a behavioural addiction which involves compulsive, excessive use of social media When this happens for long periods of time, it starts having serious consequences on both your mental and physical health, not to mention, your interpersonal relationships, hobbies, interests, and other aspects of life

One of the prevalent issues that people today face is called FOMO FOMO or Fear of Missing Out is mainly caused by social media Through studies, it was defined as ‘‘the uneasy and sometimes all-consuming feeling that you’re missing out – that your peers are doing, in the know about, or in possession of more or something better than you’’ It causes people to become extremely anxious and feel like they are inferior to others

Although it can be difficult to accept and admit to something like a social media addiction, the faster you realise you are getting too attached to these online platforms, the easier it is to put an end to it And all the negative outcomes that could follow. So how do you identify social media addiction, you may be asking? There are various distinct symptoms for it For example, feeling restless and distressed when you are unable to use social media This can cause problems such as the inability to concentrate or pay attention, anger issues, and depression. Another symptom is when people heavily depend on social media as a coping mechanism, as a way to escape from reality when they are experiencing negative emotions, but just trying to distract yourself from such problems is not a healthy method of coping

Through the recognition of social media addiction and FOMO, we can find ways to avoid getting trapped into the spider web that will only bring us harm. One piece of advice is to practise mindfulness and focus on the present The inevitable need to compare yourself to the fake lives on social media can be suffocating and make you feel lacking in comparison Gratitude is essential If you imagine losing the things you already have, you will appreciate them more Overall, your life can brighten significantly with just a simple thing like saying thank you to the things you are already lucky to have in your life