To the point: Unworldly data protection
Social networks are often considered an invention of Web 2.0. But that’s not the case. Social networks have always been the foundation of the Internet; they just went by different names back then. In the early days of the Internet, there were newsgroups, followed shortly thereafter by chat rooms. Those, too, were essentially social networks.
Social networks are considered the invention of Web 2.0, but that's not the case. Social networks have always been the foundation of the Internet, only they were called something else back then. In the early days of the Internet, there were newsgroups, then soon chat rooms. Those were actual social networks, too. They all served the same purpose, namely for people to find other people with the same interests, to exchange ideas with them and to network. This ranged from scientific newsgroups to sometimes perverse sex topics. Although there were no pictures and the content was tedious to read, these were the precursors of today's social networks. Web 2.0 made it possible for Internet users to put their own content online, thanks to simple applications. And content of any form: Texts, images, videos, etc. People can now link directly to each other, talk to each other, invite each other to their circle of friends and keep their own contacts up to date. This is done effortlessly because changes are automatically updated in the entire circle of friends.
Today, social networks are the shooting stars of the Internet. In addition to the big sites like MySpace, Facebook, Xing and StudiVZ, there are an infinite number of social network sites. A study by Datamonitor shows that around 42 million Europeans currently use social networks. The growth of the sites is gigantic; it is expected to increase to more than 100 million in the next few years. MySpace has 250 million members worldwide, Facebook 125 million. The sites are also booming in Switzerland. Facebook has 600,000 members in this country. Social networks have become an important factor for commercial communication. Through the immense networking, brand images can be hyped up or destroyed within a short time. This and much more could be learned at the recent Exchange event of the advertising agency group Y&R.
But what fascinates me about the phenomenon of social networks is something completely different. The participants on these sites indulge in absolute exhibitionism. They reveal all the details about themselves voluntarily and without being asked. This ranges from professional skills and views on business-oriented sites to the most intimate details. Details that the same people would probably be reluctant to divulge or even hint at in a personal conversation. The supposed anonymity of the Internet, or rather the closed circle of users, makes people feel safe. After all, it's just the two of them. The boundaries between private and professional details dissolve; you're in a glass house 24 hours a day. Worldwide and forever, because the Internet forgets nothing. This makes the efforts of data protectionists seem very unworldly.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
Today, social networks are the shooting stars of the Internet. In addition to the big sites like MySpace, Facebook, Xing and StudiVZ, there are an infinite number of social network sites. A study by Datamonitor shows that around 42 million Europeans currently use social networks. The growth of the sites is gigantic; it is expected to increase to more than 100 million in the next few years. MySpace has 250 million members worldwide, Facebook 125 million. The sites are also booming in Switzerland. Facebook has 600,000 members in this country. Social networks have become an important factor for commercial communication. Through the immense networking, brand images can be hyped up or destroyed within a short time. This and much more could be learned at the recent Exchange event of the advertising agency group Y&R.
But what fascinates me about the phenomenon of social networks is something completely different. The participants on these sites indulge in absolute exhibitionism. They reveal all the details about themselves voluntarily and without being asked. This ranges from professional skills and views on business-oriented sites to the most intimate details. Details that the same people would probably be reluctant to divulge or even hint at in a personal conversation. The supposed anonymity of the Internet, or rather the closed circle of users, makes people feel safe. After all, it's just the two of them. The boundaries between private and professional details dissolve; you're in a glass house 24 hours a day. Worldwide and forever, because the Internet forgets nothing. This makes the efforts of data protectionists seem very unworldly.
Pierre C. Meier, Editor-in-Chief
[email protected]
