Book Review: Privacy & How to Get it Back

A recent book I read, Privacy: And How to Get it Back, from a recent podcast guest, BJ Mendelson, really got me thinking about a big topic right now in society; digital privacy.

The big takeaway for me from Privacy was that it isn't so much that the tools themselves are inherently bad, it's how the companies who made them use them and sell our data as well as what individuals put on these platforms without knowing what is done with this information.

I think BJ's book serves as a great counterpoint to my other book review, Winning with Data. There are ways to responsibly use data to make life better for people, but profiting off of social media posts and this community that exists on your platforms isn't really doing many people much good. And there are other models that could be made to allow these companies to make money without selling your data, or at least compensate you for your valuable data (which BJ recommends).

We create many of our own problems in the world, but we can also create solutions as well. These amazing tools we've made need to used responsibly by all involved. Many of these digital companies (whether they be Amazon, Facebook, Google, etc.) have a duty to do right by us, their users. But often they're working within the lax regulations put upon them. If we put proper rules in place, then they will work within them, as we're seeing with the GDPR rollout. I think digital privacy is a right, and these companies shouldn't be obfuscating the way to control how our data is shared.

I'm hopeful that as these digital tools as becoming more ubiquitous, we will update our laws and make sure to keep these companies that make them in check. It is also on the individual to feel empowered and informed to manage their data in whatever ways they feel most comfortable with. Maybe that means being more conservative, or it means sharing it widely, or only with certain platforms. Also, in my world, as higher ed becomes more digitized as well, we need to more conscious of how we're securing this information, which at times can be very sensitive.

I hope this gets you thinking like it did for me. It's something we can take for granted but the right to privacy is fundamental. We just need to learn how to navigate this issue in the digital space, but I'm confident we all can.

Why You Can Rely On The Internet For Everything

These days, more than most people rely on the internet every day, and it’s completely normal too. With all of the resources it has to offer, why would you look anywhere else for things you want? You may argue that not everything you can find in stores will be online, you might be surprised that that’s really not the case at all. Even the most unique items can be found online, as you have access to the intellectual property of billions of people online. Just because you can’t find something online, doesn’t mean it’s not there; because the chances are, you can find it with the right knowledge.

Shopping around

If you know where to look, the internet can be really eye-opening. You never know what you’re going to find, as you have access to so much more than you would in your local town. Hopping around to different sites can really help you to find things you didn’t even know you wanted, whether it be a new item of clothing, or a gadget that you’d never even heard of. You may even find out about events going on that hasn’t been advertised anywhere else before, and suddenly you’re interested. Being able to order things on the spot is really useful, especially if the items are of limited time. Take event tickets, for example.

A lot of the time if you’re going to an anticipated event, the tickets will likely sell out at some point, which makes getting them now much more important. If you need to find out more about events you could be missing, you could look at sites like The Ticket Merchant to give you ideas of what you might like to do. A lot of people lack creativity and often don’t even consider such things until they see them. Seeing the opportunity can be what coaxes you into buying it, so look around and explore your options!

(Source: Pexels)

Global news

Within ten seconds of being online, you can access the global news at any time of the day. Taking advantage of this can help you to stay in touch with the events going on in the world, and for some people, it’s extremely helpful for their occupation. It might be that you’re planning to go on holiday, and you want to check the news for that area to make sure your timing is right. You wouldn’t want to book a holiday to then find out there’s been a flood around your destination, so stay informed!

Second opinions

If you look online, you can find out about almost everything you want to know. An important thing to look into is reviews! If you’re thinking of investing into something expensive, you want to know that you receive what you’re expecting, so having a look into what everyone else has said about it can help you make that decision. Reviews are a generally good place to turn to if you’re not sure about a purchase, as you can get multiple opinions of what various people thought, allowing you to make an educated choice.

How Technology Has Shaped My Life For The Better

For as long as I can remember, technology has been a part of my life. I’ve played video games since I was a kid, we had a family computer for as long ago as I can remember (with a dial-up internet connection no less), and I practiced my computer typing as well as used different computer programs to learn in grade school. This has persisted strongly into my adult life, with me having a personal fondness for apps and tools to make our lives easier.

Many people lament technology, but I appreciate it (check out this great book review for some more optimistic thoughts about technology). It has done so much for me in all its different forms. It has helped me meet new people, have fun, and learn. Here are some stories and reflections about each of these gifts technology has given me:

Meeting New People

It is really powerful to connect with people over shared interests, whatever they may be. Once you get people talking about what they love, it makes their enthusiasm contagious. I’ve had the joy of sharing my love of video games with people ever since I was young. I would play games with the neighboring kids and would swap games with each other too. When I got older, I bonded with my college roommate with Call of Duty (the first Modern Warfare to be exact), and met some nice people from all over the world through games like World of Warcraft. You could even consider the connections I’ve strengthened through silly games like Words with Friends or playing online Blackjack games on smartphones. Video games will always be a part of my life, no matter how big or small. They’re just a great way to have fun with others!

Have Fun

Speaking of fun, technology helps us have fun. Obviously video games are a big way, but our smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, and streaming devices - when connected to a decent connection like the best satellite internet - allow us to share funny videos, enjoy our favorite shows and movies together, and let us bond over old memories with our photos. I personally don’t partake, but there are apps like Snapchat that give people great joy through silly filters and doodles. Not to mention all the apps out there that are simply made to be fun, like a lightsaber app or one that makes funny sound effects. There were limitations on doing any of this before, where now we can share in all of these things even if we are far apart from those we care about.

Learn New Things

Something that I really appreciate nowadays is being able to look things up when I want an answer. It can range from who this actor is in on whatever show I’m watching, or viewing an informative YouTube video about the science of napping. There is so much knowledge out in the world today, and now all of it is at our fingertips. While some people seem to scoff at this modern era where we no longer have to wonder about things, I love how we can have answers to any and all of even the most mundane queries.

As we reevaluate the role technology has in our lives, we can appreciate it as a worthy compliment to it. There is certainly a line where it becomes too much, but we can use technology in a proper way to supplement our lives and make them richer. We just need to understand what it can offer and its limitations.

Book Review: Without Their Permission

This 2013 book, Without Their Permission: How the 21st Century Will Be Made, Not Managed from reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian explores his story creating the front page of the Internet as well as stories of how the Internet is reshaping society for the better. Ohanian also gives tips for budding entrepreneurs who want to succeed in this brave new world where people can make millions off a cool app they created on their own from a dorm room. Even more so, no one has to wait for someone else's permission to make that app, make a change, or do some good. With the Internet, so much more is at so many more people's fingertips. The Internet is a great equalizer in terms of access and it allows for more good stuff to get the attention it deserves.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It had a very casual tone while still containing some great perspectives on Internet culture, how it is changing our society, and how to maximize the potential it offers. Ohanian obviously knows this subject well as he made his life being plugged in to the vast community of the Internet. While it is something I feel pretty understanding of, I enjoyed how he talked about it and I hope others can gleam some important morsels of wisdom from this book.

I've been a fan of Ohanian and the work he has done to ensure a free and open Internet. He goes into some of that journey in the book as well. This segment felt especially poignant as the FCC just recently made sure that the work Ohanian did was not in vain. The stories he tells about the amazing positive impact the Internet has had on so many different people in all sorts of ways furthers my commitment to embrace it as a tool for good.

Without Their Permission is an engaging, fun, personal, quick read that is great for anyone interested in entrepreneurship and the greater Internet community. It will preach to the choir for many but I hope it may reach some out there that might not fully realize the good this brave new world is doing for so many people.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I'm Geeking Out About This Week - 03/21/14

Hey everybody! Back to my usual rhythm this week so here's my week in geek!

• Harry's

This is a neat company I just sort of stumbled across recently that provides reasonably priced, all-natural, and social conscious shaving products. You can get a "starter kit" of sorts with a razor, two spare razor heads, and some shaving cream and then set up a revolving cycle of new razor heads to come right to your door based on your shaving habits. They also just opened a cool shop in NYC where you can get a haircut and shave and they'll also keep a database of how you like to get your haircut! It feels like a hip new way for men to keep well-groomed. I'm just wondering if they'll do a female equivalent some day. Perhaps they'll call it Sally's?

• Pocket

I got turned on to this app/website from a coworker at my internship and it is super awesome! It's a simple concept; it is essentially just a consistent, ubiquitous place to save links you find online. I just like it since it can be easily translatable across devices and showcases your links in a fun way rather than just being a mishmash list of URLs. It's free so check it out today if you need to get your mass of bookmarks and such organized.

• Rutgers Geek Week

This one is fairly self explanatory but the week of events is finally upon us. We've been planning for months and I'm very proud of how this year turned out. We have movie nights, trivia, panels, and our annual costume dance party. I am also proud to have simply been a part of it. I was able to gush about the unique effort during my recent interviews and share all the great things this initiative has been able to accomplish in its three years of existence. I look forward to hearing of Rutgers Geek Week's exploits for years to come!

Thanks for stopping by! Have an amazing weekend!