Is this the next step in Darwin’s Evolution??
Recap: In my previous post (link: ), I talked about the future evolution of our homes and the effects that internet accessibility (in the form of social media) has had in the world around us. The last part of my series will touch on some of the negative aspects of social media.
With sharing made so accessible today many are finding it difficult to resist sharing too much personal information with the public. Some of the unsavory members of our society are taking advantage of the fact that humans are social creatures and can’t resist sharing news of the incredible gifts they have just received or the expensive Home Entertainment System they just setup. Burglars are using Facebook and the embedded “Location Based Services” to profile which homes are ripe for the picking and at what times your home is open for business. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding Facebook’s ever changing privacy commitments and security settings making it difficult for most to keep up and understand just how much information they are actually sharing with the public. A recent marketing project at http://www.takethislollipop.com/ has shown us just how much information we might be putting out there. The website features a creep stalker gleaning personal information about you, your family and your friends and ultimately where you live in order to pay you a visit.
Adding to the tech tool-belt of the socially disturbed is none other than Twitter. The creation of a new generation stalker that is lazy yet eco-friendly at the same time has indullably linked Twitter to being a breeding ground for stalkers in the minds of most. I remember when stalking meant that you had to actually rummage through one’s garbage or spend hundreds of dollars a month on gas following friends, family and acquaintances’ of one’s obsession. The traditional tools needed for the trade (from what I hear) back then was a car, lock-pick set, and a healthy appetite for jealousy. With Twitter & Facebook, today’s stalker need only create an innocuous user profile to latch on and sit back and wait for the minute-by-minute tweet updates about where you are, what you are doing, who you are with and what your interests are.
Even though there will inevitably be negatives with any new technology there are usually more positives to offset to them. Social media can be just as resourceful in preventing theft and catching criminals. Law enforcement agencies around the world have embraced the use of social media to infiltrate gangs and criminal networks to build cases against them. Savvy home owners have wired their homes to send tweets to them if their burglar alarm is triggered. Imagine your home tweeting “Help, I’m being robbed!” and then sending streaming video or pictures from your home’s surveillance system directly to the police dispatch. The local police having augmented reality displays in their cars quickly help guide them to your home in distress.
Contributor, designer & admin for JohnHart Gazette.
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