Surveillance on Social Media
Key Concepts: Surveillance, social media, personal data, user-generated content, market logic, categorization, privacy, visibility, surveillance culture, information policies, social sorting, accountability, freedom, fairness, "surveillance of others" vs. "surveillance for others."
The Pervasiveness of Social Media Surveillance
Social media, once a novelty, is now ubiquitous. The speaker has been studying surveillance for over 20 years and is concerned with the accessibility and use of personal information shared on social media. The central question is: "Is it them watching us?" The speaker argues that the amount of accessible personal data online is underestimated.
Social Media Companies and the Trade of Personal Information
Social media platforms are fundamentally trading in personal information for profit. User-generated content is used for surveillance, influencing consumers, shaping self-identity, and directing engagement with the world. This makes social media data valuable to schools, employers, police, security companies, and government departments.
Example: Employers increasingly use social media to assess job applicants, with a significant percentage of photos on Facebook showing users in an inebriated state. Some employers even request Facebook passwords, bypassing privacy settings.
Market Logic and Categorization
Social media operates on a market logic, creating categories and profiles of users. Users contribute to this categorization by posting images and information about their tastes, preferences (music, sports, food), political affiliations, and religious commitments. Even high privacy settings are not foolproof, as a composite picture can be created from the preferences and habits of friends. "On Facebook you see your friends betray you."
Beyond Corporate Surveillance: The Emerging Surveillance Culture
The speaker argues that surveillance is not just done to us, but by us. A survey by Vision Critical and the Surveillance Study Center at Queen's University found that over a third of respondents in Canada, the US, and Britain admitted to tracking and monitoring others online. More than half of those believed the tracked individuals would be embarrassed or unhappy if they knew. This indicates an emerging surveillance culture that goes beyond the Orwellian state and consumer surveillance. This culture is internalized, meaning we participate in surveillance ourselves.
The Ambiguity of Social Media and the Blurring of Online/Offline Lives
Social media has positive aspects, such as community support. However, the online and offline worlds have become intertwined, making the distinction less meaningful.
Examples: Cyberbullying and relationship breakups discovered through social media status updates demonstrate the real-world impact of online activity.
New Questions for a New Reality
Traditional questions about surveillance (who's watching, what do they know) are still relevant, but insufficient. The speaker argues that people who oppose corporate monitoring may also engage in online tracking themselves. Surveillance in a context of "fun" can normalize and domesticate it, even when it's harmful.
Managing Visibility and the Need for New Information Policies
The challenge is to think differently about personal information and manage visibility (both our own and others') in a world where online and offline are blurred.
Two key approaches:
- New Information Policies: Go beyond privacy concerns to address social sorting through categorization. Press for accountability within organizations that process personal data. Failure to do so risks losing freedom and fairness.
- Freedom: Fear of surveillance can deter participation in legal political protests. Governments are seeking access to internet service provider data without warrants.
- Fairness: Some individuals receive discounts and benefits through social media customer relationships, while others are systematically excluded (d-marketing).
- New Codes for Conduct: Go beyond the negative and protective aspects of privacy. Consider the "good of the other."
The Call to Digital Responsibility
The speaker advocates for a digital extension of being our "brother's keeper." We should consider the impact of our posts and tweets on others. The appropriate response to surveillance is sometimes "don't do it." We should strive to be pioneers in fostering human flourishing through our online interactions.
Quote: "We should ask whether it's surveillance of others or surveillance for others." - Eric Stoneart
Synthesis/Conclusion
The speaker argues that social media surveillance is a complex issue that goes beyond corporate and governmental monitoring. Individuals are also active participants in surveillance, creating a culture where it is normalized and potentially harmful. Addressing this requires new information policies that prioritize accountability, freedom, and fairness, as well as a shift in individual behavior towards considering the well-being and visibility of others online. The ultimate goal should be to use social media in a way that fosters human flourishing.
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