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This image from Mike Licht on OpenVerse provides a visual of how the internet may function without Net Neutrality. In the absence of Net Neutrality, internet service providers can speed up or slow down websites, creating "fast lanes" and "slow lanes" that impact how users access online content.

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Privacy Nihilism: Is Our Online Privacy Really in Our Hands?

While exploring this week's learning materials on data privacy, one of the first topics that came to mind is the concept of "privacy nihilism," or the idea that because the concept of online privacy is so deep and complicated, trying to understand or control it is meaningless. The term "privacy nihilism" was used in an article from Morning Consult on how most social media users do not trust social media companies with their data but give it to them anyway. Often, distrusting social media users give up their data because they feel it is too difficult to protect their data regardless, they want to avoid missing out on social media, or they do not expect their data to be used as it is. Admittedly, I used to have this view; I felt that the internet and a social media presence were must-haves in this day and age, and there was no way to fully protect my privacy and be online at the same time, so why bother trying? However, after reviewing this week's materials, I have new, mixed feelings. On the one hand, I am, in some ways, more distrusting than I used to be because I did not realize how my data was being used and by whom. On the other hand, though, learning about privacy policies and tools such as means for controlling your legacy data reminded me that there are many methods to put a bit of agency back into our hands that many online users simply do not utilize.

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This video from The New York Times features minors confronting their parents about posting photos and other information about them online without their consent. It pertains to the topic of social media privacy and data ownership, as it divulges the risks of not having agency over your online privacy and highlights the blurry lines around who owns their social media content.

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"You can't reduce competition when nobody is competing," -John Oliver on Net Neutrality

This quote refers to the argument made by Time Warner Cable for discontinuing Net Neutrality protections and allowing internet service providers to create internet "fast lanes." While some companies claim this would be a positive change, John Oliver and many others argue that this would only deepen their monopolies.

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This article from The Guardian explores the concept and controversies of "sharenting," a term referring to parents sharing images of their children on social media. Posting minor children online has become more contentious in recent years, with an increasing number of parents making the choice to keep their kid's faces and lives off of social media. For some, this issue is rooted in concerns such as consent, as little ones cannot "approve" their online presence and the risks that come with it. Some may also worry about issues such as pedophiles having access to photos of their children, or other privacy concerns such as facial recognition and identity theft.