I had originally planned on discussing Flickr and Flickr Mashups today. However, my frustration in signing up for a Flickr account is taking center stage instead. Technology is often seen as a boon to our daily lives, making tasks easier or more efficient. Even the Luddite in me is compelled to agree with that sentiment. I own a cell phone, rely on my dvr to record my favorite shows, and am addicted to my laptop. I use email as my primary means of communication, keep in touch with friends on Facebook, track my reading on GoodReads, and even attend class on Blackboard.
The Internet is imperative to our lives now and is often our link with the rest of the world. So why was I ready to (figuratively) throw my laptop out the window last night? I realized that I couldn’t just sign up for a Flickr account and load some vacation pictures without first having a Yahoo account. I didn’t want my Yahoo email address linked to Flickr nor did I want to bypass this by accessing Flickr via my Facebook account. Why should all of my online accounts be linked? I realize some Internet users don’t see the problem with this, but I worry about my online presence and how much information is available to other users. Facebook is notorious for gathering information and owning the content people post on their pages. Would my Flickr pictures suddenly become their property?
Hackers and privacy breaches are major problems online. About six months ago, a hacker created some havoc via my Facebook page and Hotmail email account. I can’t access either of these accounts nor close them. Hotmail and Facebook have claimed that they cannot verify who I am and refuse to intervene. So I have a hacker Facebook page and a real one, as well as a phantom email address that still accepts messages. This is unnerving to say the least. And yet, many online users don’t think twice about the information they publish nor do they worry about the links between various sites. The sheer amount of personal information that can be gleaned from all of these links is impressive.
Though these aren’t new topics, they are becoming more important as the Internet can no longer be separated from “real life.” Our online personas are no longer separate from our personalities; they are just another medium we use. Information literacy is about more than just teaching people to use computers and databases. It’s about teaching them responsible and thoughtful use of this technology. How will they use their email accounts? What type of information will be posted on their Facebook page? What security controls are in place on these sites? What information is collected? How many personal details are scattered on various blogs, wikis, and message boards? Technology use and information literacy courses need to look past the basics and introduce these ideas to Internet users. I don’t think I could ethically teach a class on social networking without addressing some of the concerns that come with these sites.
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