Why People Are Scaling Back Their Online Presence: The Growing Concern for Privacy

In today’s digital age, many individuals are reconsidering how much they share online, prompted by rising concerns about privacy, safety, and the consequences of their personal data being exploited. For some, the decision to scale back their online profiles stems from past experiences and a growing awareness of how easily personal information can be manipulated and used against them.

Anita Smith, a communications professional, has always been cautious about her online presence. However, her concerns deepened following an abusive relationship with a partner who later stalked her. Despite police intervention, the experience prompted her to take drastic steps to minimize her online footprint, including deleting Instagram accounts, erasing location-based posts, and adjusting her LinkedIn profile.

“I erased my online presence as much as I possibly could,” Ms. Smith explains, “I deleted quite a few things off my LinkedIn, lots of things that were location-based, although a few posts do remain. I have posted recently, trying to build a brand, but I’m sceptical about how much I share.”

She also manages a private Facebook account, which she cleanses annually, reviewing photos, privacy settings, and tags. Her concerns go beyond personal security—she is increasingly aware of how AI can use images to create deepfakes and train models, making her reluctant to share pictures of her child on social media.

This caution around online sharing is not limited to one individual but is part of a larger trend. As scams become more sophisticated and data privacy concerns intensify, a growing number of people are questioning how much of themselves they reveal online. A Statista report reveals that 39% of respondents are worried about how companies use their data, while 26% use a VPN to safeguard their online activities.

The explosion of artificial intelligence and its role in online fraud also plays a crucial part in the shift toward reducing online footprints. AI is increasingly capable of impersonating people close to you, and when combined with personal information shared online, it creates a “deadly combination” for potential scams.

Data brokers, who collect and sell personal information to advertisers, are another growing concern. “It’s the Wild West out there,” Kaziukonis says, emphasizing the importance of taking steps to protect personal information from being exploited.

So, what can individuals do to protect their online privacy?

Kaziukonis recommends limiting the amount of personal data shared online, such as avoiding posting your home address or sharing sensitive details like your date of birth on random websites. “It could be leaked and used against you,” he cautions. He also suggests using different email addresses for various sign-ups to reduce the likelihood of spamming.

Additionally, under data protection laws, individuals have the right to request that companies delete the data they hold on them. Companies must comply or face hefty fines.

Privacy experts also recommend using tools like VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to improve online privacy, along with cookie-blockers and web browsers with strong privacy settings. Gus Hosein, executive director at Privacy International, further stresses the need for strong government laws to protect users’ privacy.

University of Strathclyde computing scientist Karen Renaud highlights the complexity of privacy policies and the difficulty many individuals face in understanding them. After studying 15 privacy policies, she found that the most complicated ones would take 32 minutes to read and would require a college-level education to fully comprehend.

To mitigate this, she advises individuals to regularly clear their browser cookies, limit the cookies they accept, and take advantage of Google’s tracking prevention features.

Services like DeleteMe and Surfshark are increasingly popular for individuals seeking to remove their personal information from public databases and data brokers. DeleteMe product manager Amanda Unterreiner shares the example of high-profile individuals, such as judges, using these services to protect their personal information. She also recounts her own experience of having her personal data removed from online databases, which previously exposed sensitive details like past addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.

In some cases, services like DeleteMe even offer to blur or pixelate images of your home on Google Maps’ street view, adding an extra layer of privacy protection.

For Saam Collingwood, a resident near Stratford-upon-Avon, reducing her online presence stemmed from several incidents, including a work-related situation where a client accessed her personal Facebook account and saw photos of her out on a night out, which didn’t sit well with her employer. She also experienced online trolling after posting a dance video on YouTube.

Concerned about rising online fraud, she began to limit her social media activity, posting only twice a year on Facebook and removing tags to protect her privacy. She also upgraded her security software to ensure websites were not accessing her personal details.

Despite these efforts to safeguard her privacy, she admits there are downsides to reducing her online presence. “I miss seeing old friends on Facebook,” she says, acknowledging that some connections have been lost as a result of her social media hiatus.

• In conclusion, while some people may claim not to care about privacy, the truth is that privacy is a fundamental human need. As Kaziukonis points out, even those who believe they have nothing to hide would likely not want to share every email they have ever sent. “We have curtains at home because we want to feel private,” he adds. Ultimately, protecting one’s online presence is a necessary step in safeguarding personal information against the ever-evolving threats of the digital world.

Source: BBC