Privacy & Confidentiality

New media technologies without a doubt have many beneficial usages for several individuals and businesses but there are also risks and challenges encountered by users such as privacy and confidentiality. Many applications of new media allows individuals to express themselves freely but the information created can be made available to the world if someone does not know how to set privacy setting or there is no option for that at all. For instance, in Twitter once you post a tweet it becomes accessible to the entire online community. In an online presence, information can be interpreted differently amongst users and can quickly spread negativity once misinterpreted. Also, confidentially is important to be considered when new media becomes a part of any activity since people can easily pose as someone else in a virtual environment. The various online platforms fostered by new media are susceptible to privacy and confidentiality concerns; therefore it is always better to know what you are communicating and where it is being communicated online so as to safeguard yourself from problems such as emotional distress, bullying and low self-esteem that stems from encroaching of privacy.