The other day, while talking to Professor Jillian Dunn from UCLA, one of her statements left me deeply reflective. According to her, with just a piece of information, the internet can know more about you than your acquaintances. With two pieces, it knows more than your own family. With three pieces, the internet knows more than your friends, and with four pieces, it can know more about you than you do yourself.
This statement left me perplexed.
How is it possible for the internet to know more about me than I do, with just four pieces of information?
The next day, I was at home with a friend who had just downloaded the TikTok app on her phone. She was trying to understand how the algorithm worked. As she spent more time watching certain content, more of that same type of content appeared on her screen. However, something strange happened: the next day, content that supposedly “didn’t interest her” started to appear, but strangely she couldn’t stop watching it.
It was at that moment that I understood what Jillian was saying. The internet really knows you better than you know yourself. In the technological era we live in, with the constant emergence of new platforms, the amount of data collected about us only increases, and the concern about privacy invasion becomes more evident.
But does data collection ever cross the line? And if it’s to improve our online experience, is it worth it?
Small behavior patterns are traced through our searches, the things we like and share, and it is at this point that big data companies begin to uncover hidden attributes about us, of which we weren’t even aware we were sharing information.
Based on this data, personas are created that represent our profile. Our age, gender, interests, and much more. And it is through this information that big data companies can further personalize our online experience.
However, the question arises: how far is data collection acceptable? How far is it ethical and beneficial for us as users? These are important questions we need to ask and reflect on in an increasingly connected world.
As we continue to share personal information and engage with online platforms, it is crucial to be aware of the power these companies have over our data and the importance of protecting our privacy.
BEATRIZ DIAS
Graphic Designer, Photographer
Beatrizgcostadias@gmail.com