Sorry, ma'am, you're under arrest for ignorance to privacy on social media.

Social media, commonly defined as websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking (https://www.dictionary.com/ ).

Let's begin by identifying the improvements social media and the web has had on society (https://www.webfx.com/internet-marketing/social-media-marketing-advantages-and-disadvantages.html):

1. Provides an opportunity to reach large audiences

2. It's direct and efficient in delivering information

3. Organic content creating opportunities are endless

4. Building a brand is now a fraction of the start-up cost it used to be and every person with a mobile device has this opportunity

5. Automatically generated account statistics display performance in a fraction of a second

6. Viral content can change a company and/or individual's life

Sounds pretty amazing right? So, what could possibly be unfavourable?

Tim Berner's Lee is the creator of the web, he stated 'the goal of the web is to serve humanity. We build it now so that those who come to it later will be able to create things that we cannot ourselves imagine' (https://www.azquotes.com/author/8668-Tim_Berners_Lee). What's fascinating is that he too admits the following (https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/11/tim-berners-lee-web-inventor-save-internet) :

1. We’ve lost control of our personal data

2. It’s too easy for misinformation to spread on the web

3. Political advertising online needs transparency and understanding

Unfortunately, there are many tragedies that mask the web. These come in the forms of trolls, fake accounts, fake followers, privacy breaches from application owners and creators, misuse of data and personal information, unethical advertising, cookies, geo-tracking, artificial intelligence and the list goes on.

All of the above listed are results of greed or ego. Businesses and individuals abusing the negative loopholes that Mr Lee created for their own sales, success or self - fulfilment. In my opinion, the reason behind these motives is due to the lack of education and monitoring of the internet. I am a strong believer that the web was released prematurely. What I mean is that thorough knowledge into monitoring, privacy and how to educate users to utilise this opportunity was not conducted. It is a result of the lack of education that we find ourselves battling more evils of the internet than we should.

Here's what we can do to manage this in our own lives!

1. Always check privacy settings - anytime an app is downloaded, look into settings to see if you are comfortable with the information the app has collected.

2. Think before you post & think big - something you could find hilarious may be offensive to another gender, culture or religion, have your opinion but make sure it's articulated well.

3. Don't entertain offensive online behaviour - if an account is trolling, bullying or being nasty, don't engage in chat conversations or post, simply report or block (https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnrampton/2015/04/09/10-tips-to-dealing-with-trolls/#5f6a9a5254f4).

4. Face the facts - use cues from other sites or activity to face the reality that the internet knows a lot about you IF you allow it to. Don't be shocked by the information you publicise.

If you're still unsure, think about the internet think of it as a diesel car. Fill it up with diesel (healthy info) and it will run smoothly, fill it up with petrol (negative info) and it won't work efficiently, take it to get serviced to check the systems are operating properly (do regular privacy check-ins) and obey the road rules to avoid any unwanted damage or threat (read terms and conditions to avoid taxing situations later). Be safe and treat the car (the internet) with respect and you will reap the reward!

Let me know in the comments if you've ever experienced the negative side of the internet, what do you think of Mr Lee Burner's invention?