Alvin-DATA

The term data can be summarised as facts or statistics collected for analysis or reference. Collection of this data is both voluntary and involuntary depending on what type of technology we are using but the relationship between data and technology has a very crucial aspect in terms of profit making. In the 21st century, most companies have resorted to the use of data tracking and analysis to maximize profits. A person’s data is examined and then a specific niche is created for them. On platforms such as amazon, you get recommendations to buy specific products depending on your history of purchases. Social media platforms such as Instagram are notorious for pushing advertisements depending on what you have shown interest in. (likes and accounts followed). Data collected in most cases is directly linked to people’s privacy so it is safe to assume that most media technologies misuse data from a moral standpoint but at the same time it can be argued that the data analytics provide us with more options of what we are interested in. Hackers and cyber criminals use keyloggers to access the supposedly safe online private data to perform all kinds of crimes. Modern technological advancements have made it almost impossible not to have some sort of parallel online life risking exposure and misuse of personal data for example having a mobile phone which usually contains all our passwords, private messages and other exclusive forms of information. Solutions like using VPNs that possess strong encryptions for data protection  have skyrocketed but at the same time, hackers have also taken advantage of the rising technology to improve their skills. Limiting the amount of data we provide to the online forums is almost impossible since we are moving towards a more online oriented type of world.