Why Privacy Feels So Fragile Now

I think the scariest thing about the digital age is the concept of privacy, simply because I think most people, myself included, have no idea what we have already given up. I used to think that the concept of privacy simply meant what I’m sharing online or what apps I’m downloading. But after hearing these talks, I now understand that it is more than that. I understand that my data is always being collected, stored, sold, and reused in ways that I did not agree to or even know about.

I think the thing that scares me the most is the fact that, once something is online, it doesn’t ever truly go away. So, things that I may have shared years ago or did not even want to share with people are going to come back and haunt me forever. I think the idea of digital immortality is kind of creepy. It makes me think about the fact that, no matter what I’m sharing, the internet does not forgive or forget. This is no longer just about celebrities, but about people like me, my friends, and my family.

The surveillance aspect of this is just as disturbing. It’s frightening to consider that police can monitor license plates, phones, and where thousands of innocent people are at any given time. It sounds like something out of a dystopian movie, but it’s real. Being aware that your daily activities can reveal where you go for worship, who you visit, or if you’re going for therapy is an invasion of privacy. It’s even worse when you realize that this data can be stored for years and abused.

This situation is very personal to me because my entire
social life, school life, and conversations with friends and family happen online. This includes group chats, emails, social media, and fitness apps. Nobody actually reads terms and conditions because they’re impossible to read. Therefore, we agree to things without actually understanding the true consequences. My family also uses smart technology, and after realizing that toys and home technology can spy on users, it makes you wonder how safe it actually is.

The government has to do a lot more. There need to be clear regulations on how long the data is kept, who has access to it, and what it is used for. Surveillance tools need to be tightly controlled and not used in secret. Companies shouldn’t use complicated policies as an excuse to make money off of users' data. Privacy needs to be a fundamental right, not something extra.

We as individuals are stuck, yet we are also empowered. We can use encrypted messaging and email, be mindful of what we share, and support companies that prioritize privacy over ads. Just knowing about this helps. After realizing how deep the issue runs, it’s impossible to turn a blind eye. The issue of privacy in the digital age may be tenuous, but turning a blind eye would be worse.

Eight values of free expression

When we first discussed the First Amendment, it was all about the time period in which it was established. It was all about how Jefferson, Madison, and the other founding fathers were reacting to the censorship, monarchs, and the punishment that came to those who spoke out. Freedom of speech and the freedom of the press were big issues back then, and that is still true today, but only to the extent that a democracy cannot exist without the freedom to speak out against those in power. Back then, the only way to speak out was to write books, but that has expanded into many different avenues. 

These ideas were not fully developed until later, especially the idea of the Marketplace of Ideas, which was introduced in 1919. It was then that scholars were no longer simply saying that freedom of speech is protected but were actually discussing the importance of the freedom of speech and how it benefits society. The eight free speech values help bridge the gap from the First Amendment to the present day. The one that really stands out to me is the Marketplace of Ideas. It is the idea that the truth will come out based on the ideas that are put out, and I think that this is something that is really relevant to today. Social media is like the marketplace, where there are so many different ideas, arguments, and evidence all out there.

Meanwhile, social media reveals the flaws in this theory. Why? Because social media is based on engagement, not truth. But the other path is a more dangerous path. Allowing government and/or media to dictate what is and isn’t “okay” to think will shut down the very process that allows truth to grow. The Marketplace of Ideas, though imperfect, keeps power decentralized. Self-government is also important. Democracy requires an informed and engaged citizenry. Free expression allows people to discuss policy, protest injustice, and engage in a community of shared concerns. Free speech is what makes democracy meaningful.

The safety valve concept is still relevant today. Social media is blamed for all the anger and venting going on, but releasing all this frustration actually keeps things stable. People will continue to be angry and resentful if you don’t let them express themselves. Expression is a very personal value to me. Expression helps people define who they are and their community by allowing them to share their stories and express themselves. Talking things out helps people define who they are.

The watchdog effect of free expression is also important. Journalists and those who express dissenting opinions are like a watchdog, protecting society from those in power. These values demonstrate that free expression is not just a constitutional right; it is a process.

My Top 5 New Sources

 In this age of digital media, it's difficult to find any new sources that you can actually trust and gives you what actually happened. So, in this post, I will give you 5 sources that are non-biased, and that you can actually trust to give you real news. 

Associated Press

The AP is probably one of the cleanest news sources you’ll come across. AP is super straightforward. None of that trying to persuade you to believe one thing or another. Most of it is literally "just the facts": Who, what, when, and very often, why. There's a ton of other news sites that simply regurgitate AP, and that's pretty telling. Heads up, not a lot of opinion goes into AP, but it's one of the best.

Reuters

Pretty similar to AP, but with more global coverage, at least from my perspective. It is really good for international news and big events that affect multiple countries. There is no dramatization in the tone, which I like a lot. I usually check Reuters whenever I want to confirm something I saw on social media or from another outlet. It just feels very reliable and down to earth.

PBS NewsHour
I think the best thing about the PBS NewsHour is that, for once, I'm actually looking for information and background instead of just having it thrown at me. They have the time to tell the story and try to convey all sides without beating any one of them too hard into the narrative. There's none of that noisy reaction at all. I think it's good when I need to know about something instead of just the fact that the thing existed.

BBC News
BBC News can be good for this for the reason that it’s not American, which makes it so that politics and news about America can be viewed without the emotionalism that tends to go along with it. It’s interesting how certain things that are going on here are viewed when you look at it from a different point of view; however, it can also be good for getting world news and such.

PolitiFact

This isn’t a standard news website. However, it can be very helpful
. For instance, should a statement that seems quite big be made by a political or prominent figure, one can use the website to validate the statement. I find the website a better alternative to simply accepting everything that agrees with your views.

None of these sources are going to give you exactly one hundred percent of what happened, but they are all very reliable and way less influenced by politics or government pressure than most outlets.