"Communication, and its ally computers, is a special case in economic history. Not because it happens to be the fashionable leading business sector of our day, but because its cultural, technological, and conceptual impacts reverberate at the root of our lives."
- Kevin Kelly New Rules for the New Economy 1999.
The ever modernizing digital communications industry is constantly dreaming up new ways for users to connect and share content. Smart phones enable users to communicate with others, access maps, shop online, order takeaway and access social networking sites on the go. There seems to be an App (smartphone application) for everything. This access ability on the go has the potential to make our lives easier but there are negative impacts as well.
Now I'm not one of those bloggers that thinks new technology creates new evil. But there is no denying that some new technologies make it easier for those that would do evil to go about their business. As I mentioned in previous posts about protesters using social networking sites such as Facebook to rally against tyrannical governments, these same networking sites also have the potential to help those that would stalk people, find and monitor their victims.
In 2010 Facebook launched it's 'Places' feature, allowing users reveal to friends in cyberspace where they were in the 'real' world. As you can imagine this ignited all sorts debate over its obvious privacy issue. Some have called it the "Ultimate Stalking Tool" while others are more concerned that users may be logged into locations without their permission.
Marketers however, are praising the Facebook Places App as an effective advertising tool for businesses. Businesses registering their 'Place' are encouraged to offer users extra incentives for users who log in to and thus promote their business.
Not-so-Zuckerberg approved Apps for Facebook (and potential stalkers) include the "Break Up Notifier" which allows users to track other user's relationship status changes and this helpful App created by the Dutch anti-smoking council.
Before you get excited, both Apps have been reportedly blocked by Facebook.
Now I'm not one of those bloggers that thinks new technology creates new evil. But there is no denying that some new technologies make it easier for those that would do evil to go about their business. As I mentioned in previous posts about protesters using social networking sites such as Facebook to rally against tyrannical governments, these same networking sites also have the potential to help those that would stalk people, find and monitor their victims.
Other dangers include: coming out of your monitor, drooling and only having three fingers on one hand.
In 2010 Facebook launched it's 'Places' feature, allowing users reveal to friends in cyberspace where they were in the 'real' world. As you can imagine this ignited all sorts debate over its obvious privacy issue. Some have called it the "Ultimate Stalking Tool" while others are more concerned that users may be logged into locations without their permission.
Marketers however, are praising the Facebook Places App as an effective advertising tool for businesses. Businesses registering their 'Place' are encouraged to offer users extra incentives for users who log in to and thus promote their business.
Zuckerberg approves.
Before you get excited, both Apps have been reportedly blocked by Facebook.
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