Social Media Data Sharing Consent

Social Media and Privacy: Essay Phase

Title: The Importance of Obtaining Explicit Consent for the Collection and Use of Personal Data on Social Media

I.A. Introduction: The use of social media platforms has become increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. We use it for communication, entertainment, and even to share our personal experiences. However, the issue of privacy on social media has raised concerns over the collection and usage of personal data by these platforms. While some argue that sharing personal information is necessary for the platform's functionality and advertising purposes, I believe that the collection and usage of personal data without explicit consent is a violation of privacy rights.

I.B. Argument: Should social media companies be able to collect users’ data without more explicit permission? I say that social media platforms should not collect and use personal data without explicit consent because it is a violation of privacy rights. Users have the right to control their personal information and should be able to choose what information they want to share. One might object that collecting personal data is necessary for the platform's functionality and targeted advertising, which can benefit both the user and the platform. I reply that while targeted advertising may be beneficial, it is not worth compromising the user's privacy. Moreover, social media platforms can still function without the need to collect personal data, as evidenced by some privacy-focused alternatives that do not collect or share user data. In addition, the use of personal data by these platforms can lead to potential misuse and abuse by third-party companies or even the platform itself, leading to negative consequences such as identity theft or data breaches. Therefore, it is crucial that social media platforms respect and prioritize their user's privacy by obtaining explicit consent before collecting and using personal data.

II.A. Body: To begin with, social media platforms have been collecting user data for years without explicit consent, using it to generate revenue through targeted advertising. However, this practice has raised ethical and legal concerns regarding the use of personal data without user's consent. It is crucial to understand that user's personal data such as location, browsing history, and search queries are sensitive and should only be collected with the user's consent. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) mandates that platforms obtain explicit consent from users before collecting and using their data.[footnoteRef:1] This regulation ensures that users have control over their data and are aware of how their information is being used. [1: Hoofnagle, Chris Jay, Bart Van Der Sloot, and Frederik Zuiderveen Borgesius. "The European Union general data protection regulation: what it is and what it means." Information & Communications Technology Law 28.1 (2019): 65-98.]

Social media companies do not need to harvest users’ data as they can function and survive without it. For example, privacy-focused social media platforms such as Mastodon and Diaspora have gained popularity by offering alternatives to traditional social media platforms that collect user data. These platforms are designed to prioritize user privacy by not collecting or sharing user data with third-party companies.

Moreover, harvesting data opens the door for abuses. Indeed, social media platforms' targeted advertising practices have raised concerns over the use of personal data to influence user behavior. The Cambridge Analytica scandal, where the political consulting firm harvested data from millions of Facebook users without their consent to influence political outcomes, is a stark example of how data can be misused. Therefore, it is essential to prioritize user's privacy rights to avoid similar incidents in the future.

Plus, social media platforms have been accused of selling user data to third-party companies without user's consent, leading to potential misuse and abuse of personal information. Users do not know what third parties are going to do with their data. They entered into an agreement with the social media platform when they began using its services, but they have no way of knowing who these third parties are or what their intentions might be. There is a lot of uncertainty and danger due to that lack of clarity and accountability. Only if they give informed consent can users take ownership of the decisions about what data they want to share and with whom. This would create transparency and accountability for both the platform and the user.

II.B. Counter-Argument: One could object that obtaining explicit consent from users would be too burdensome for social media platforms, leading to a decrease in revenue and potential harm to the platform's overall functionality. For example, if users opt-out of sharing certain data, the platform might struggle to provide targeted advertising, making it less effective for advertisers.[footnoteRef:2] [2: Tahaei, Mohammad, et al. "Deciding on Personalized Ads: Nudging Developers About User Privacy." SOUPS@ USENIX Security Symposium. 2021.]

Additionally, one could object that the sharing of data is simply part of the price one pays for using social media. It is accepted by and acceptable to the vast majority of people on the planet who use these platforms: they don’t really mind that their data is being harvested and sold to third parties, as they realize that this is how these platforms generate revenue and they are happy to have the platforms in the first place—thus, if the sharing of their data is the price they must pay, then so be it. Their consent is implicitly given the moment they begin using these platforms. There is no need for the gathering of further consent. Business is business, and everyone should understand that there is no such thing as a free lunch. To put additional pressure of social media platforms to be more transparent, upfront and honest about their data harvesting and selling practices and to demand that they put more restrictions on themselves is to be a bit too naïve about the way in which data functions as a commodity in the digital age. By participating in the digital age, by being a digital native (which everyone is in the 21st century), one essentially accepts the principles at work here: just as the earth gave up its oil to the oil industry, the digital natives give up their data to the digital industry.

Furthermore, social media platforms rely on user data to provide personalized services and generate revenue through targeted advertising. Targeted advertising allows advertisers to deliver ads to specific groups of users who are more likely to be interested in their products or services. This targeted advertising is only possible through the collection and analysis of user data, such as browsing history, location, and search queries. Without user data, social media platforms may struggle to provide personalized services and generate revenue through advertising, which is the primary source of income for most social media platforms.

II.C. Rebuttal: Even though it is true that obtaining explicit consent may be a burden for social media platforms, this argument fails to consider the importance of user's privacy rights. Users have the right to control their personal information and should be informed about how their data is being used. It is also important to note that social media platforms have an ethical and legal obligation to prioritize

To further support this argument, it is important to note that there are privacy-focused alternatives to traditional social media platforms. These alternatives have gained popularity in recent years, such as Signal, Mastodon, and Diaspora, which do not collect or share user data. These platforms have shown that it is possible to provide social media services without compromising user privacy. Social media platforms should take note of this and prioritize user privacy by adopting similar privacy-focused policies and obtaining explicit consent before collecting and using personal data.

Additionally, social media platforms should also implement stronger security measures to protect user data from potential misuse or abuse by third-party companies or hackers. This can include regularly auditing their security practices, implementing stronger encryption methods, and providing users with tools to control and protect their personal information. The fact that social media companies are vulnerable to attack means that users’ privacy and data is at risk. This can lead to user ID fraud and other criminal activities. Users could even find their bank accounts hacked or credit cards stolen. Or they could be targeted by criminals in other ways, like phishing scams, if their email information is stolen. These are all important considerations that users should think about, but social media companies do not emphasize the risk involved in using their platform because they want more users.

Lastly, while targeted advertising may be beneficial for advertisers and social media platforms, it does not outweigh the user's right to privacy. Users should have control over their personal information, and their privacy should be prioritized over the platform's revenue generation. The potential risks and negative consequences of data misuse and abuse outweigh the benefits of targeted advertising.