Social Media & Growing Privacy Issues

The buzz was abuzzin over Google’s launch of Buzz last week. The initial debate seemed to be whether or not Buzz would slam Twitter. Our quick monitoring on sentiment was 10:2 against Buzz winning that one.

Privacy however, quickly became the issue. Prompting Google to announce in just 2 days that they were making changes to the privacy setting.

Which sets up the whole issue of privacy, which occasionally bubbles to the surface of mainstream attention, simmers and boils again. As a connected “always on” society, well, we’re starting to deal with a whole lot of issues beyond just privacy.

Issues on such a broad societal scale that we’ve never before had to deal with.

One privacy issue out of Buzz that struck me was a woman trying to hide from an abusive ex-husband; Buzz was kind enough to connect her instantly again to him. Fail.

Then there’s companies like us, listening to the chatter to help companies and agencies engage in better marketing opportunities – we do however, strictly observe privacy laws in Canada, USA and UK where we operate. Just felt I should hang that out there.

So here are some of the issues we’ve seen bubbling to the top over privacy today:

1. Some people really don’t care

2. Some folk suggest that privacy is an illusion nowadays anyway

3. Others think you need to be exposed to some degree or you’ve got something to hide

4. Then there’s those who refuse to engage in being online at all. Are they missing out?

5. And then some are starting to lock things down; they’re there, but aware and learning to lock it down.

It’s a big issue. No clear cut answers.

What do you think? What are your privacy concerns? or are you?