Social Media Ticket

Have you noticed that when you are on facebook that the ads seemed very directed towards you?  Did you know that anytime you go online you create a digital footprint for others to find?  There are two types of information that can be found online from a social network, shared and electronic tracking.  Shared items is information that is posted online to web 2.0 tools or social networks like Twitter, Facebook, etc.  This can include things that a person set to public access, items that the social network site changes to public (check your user privacy policy, many have a clause in it), people share the information that you are friends with and third party applications that you authorize access (did you read that fine print before you hit accept?).

The other way is for the tracked items.  When you search through the websites your system is creating cookies. According to PCmag.com, "a cookie is a small text file (up to 4KB) created by a Web site that is stored in the user's computer either temporarily for that session only or permanently on the hard disk (persistent cookie). Cookies provide a way for the Web site to recognize you and keep track of your preferences". These cookies are accessed when you are on the internet by websites to gain your preference.  

So who can access this information?  Obviously, third party software developer seek the information to find out what is popular and what will work in their development.  Advertisers seek the information to make sure ads like you see on Facebook is applicable to your taste.  Then there is those that are interested in conducing illegal activities to include identity thieves and those that are looking to scam or harass others.    

There is always  a level of security that you give up when you are willing to go online. As one of my classmates cleverly pointed out, there is always a price to a ticket and sharing of a certain level of information is your ticket.