A Hidden Danger Looms in Facebook
Millions of people log on to Facebook each day. Laptops and mobile devices allow users to access the site from almost anywhere. Facebook has become a virtual community and is used for a multitude of reasons. The most widely recognized function is social sharing. Sharing pictures, thoughts, videos. Addicting for many, individuals find it hard to know when to stop. Recently, users have fallen victim to internet crime. It can usually be traced back to their own fault. Facebook and social media sites can be dangerous for uneducated users.
For those who have suffered from virtual crime, most of them blame the website, in this case, Facebook. Facebook has been very adamant in defending their site. They claim that it is built for the user and provides safeguards for each individual. Uneducated consumers often don’t know what they’re getting in to. Facebook is an open platform that encourages social interaction. It makes it easy for each user to find and connect with old and new friends. The most difficult part is deciphering between what is real and what is fake. That is the grey area. Facebook provides privacy settings that can be turned on or off. These settings include who can see one’s profile, what pictures and videos one is allowed to see, and many others. In comparison to most social networking sites, Facebook is one of the leaders in allowing the consumer privacy options. It comes after recent years of scrutiny for safety issues.
The younger generation has grown up using social media. While there are many cases of crime regarding teenagers and Facebook, it not as frequent as that of the older generation. The older population falls victim to scams and internet crime more often. Uninformed users are seen as bait from scammers and hackers. Entering the wrong website leaves individuals vulnerable to personal attack. Human error is something that Facebook’s privacy settings do not protect against.
Facebook is a major part of everyday life. It is exciting and evolves to your specific needs. Facebook is safe as well. It is a great place to share and connect, and even promote your business from anywhere in the world. Well informed users are relatively safe, which is why is important to educate yourself and learn about the privacy settings and services that they offer because internet criminals are hiding everywhere, waiting to strike.
