Personal information disclosure and risks in online environments

¶ … Focus Groups / Analysis of Distinct Business Dilemmas

Disclosing Information

Disclosing Information Online

One has access to virtually everything, nowadays, on the World Wide Web, ranging from entertainment, financial and credit services to merchandise from all parts of the globe. Though one is afforded some degree of anonymity online, there are an increasing number of risks to an individual's personal information on the web. People should be made aware of these risks in order to minimize the likelihoods of online mishaps. Remaining vigilant while using the internet will help one protect one's PC, money, and personal information. Youngsters are quite susceptible to risks of sensitive information breach via the internet, since they put a lot of emphasis on developing their online personality on numerous websites that access personal information. Despite most youth being smart enough to establish stringent privacy limitations on their personal profiles and steer clear of email scams, encouraging proactivity with regard to risks of divulging personal, sensitive information online is important. Identity stealers have been known to hack into large government or company databases and steal the personal information of a large number of individuals at the same time. The problem, however, is that one will not be able to enjoy the Internet's benefits without disclosing at least some amount of personal information. Internet users can take care to ensure they are only sharing sensitive information with known, trusted websites. Without knowing to what use one's personal information will be put and what security precautions will be taken, one must not share it online; also, one must ensure information safety by frequently changing passwords (Reach out, 2015).

2. Motivation

Subject: Peer Pressure on Consumers

The author complains that peer pressure gives rise to anxiety, coercing people to purchase and use products they don't regard as good. Sellers adopt a peer pressure marketing strategy for persuading people to purchase their offering; the author protests against this.

Real life reflects many situations wherein people purchase, say, an automobile of a luxury brand for maintaining status. Focus group peer pressure obstructs expression of a person's actual thoughts and behavior. It, sometimes, makes one decide not to disclose one's real opinion regarding a product. People in focus group settings tend to feed off one another, modifying their answers because of group interactions; this hampers general effectiveness of an individual's opinions, regarding, for instance, the automobile, if it, in reality, isn't worth such a steep price. Thus, as a consumer, one must actively and sincerely participate in the group, appropriately supporting/opposing products according to one's true feelings about it (Purcell, 2013).