According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, engaging in online activities generates a vast amount of private data, and individuals possess the authority to assert control over their data.
Cyber platforms, despite being quite beneficial in recent digital times, have perpetrated social wrongs, for example, cyber-enabled gender-based violence.?
Most of these platforms have occasionally been used for the wrong reasons, and this #DataPrivacyWeek is a good time to reflect, learn lessons, and stay safe online. This may include the limited sharing of personally identifiable information and sensitive details.?
Platforms, for example, social media like Facebook, X, various messengers, and other online platforms have been misused to perpetuate gender-based violence in various ways that include:-
- Cyberbullying, leading to body shaming: social media can breed online bullying, attacks on individuals, and body shaming that targets people based on their appearances or perceived gender-related ideals. This often breeds severe psychological effects on the victims, also proven to be a cause for low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Revenge porn and unconsented spreading of private content: some of these platforms have been used to share intimate images and videos without the consent of affected persons. This has occasionally led to emotional stress, damage to moral reputation, and unsolicited comments that perpetuate stigma.
- Online threats and harassment: web platforms provide media for engaging in harassment, stalking, and threats that target people especially based on their gender, sexual orientation, religion, and political affiliation, among others.
- Sexual exploitation and (especially) child trafficking: some of these platforms have been used for the recruitment, advertisement, and exploitation of individuals, especially women and children, who end up being trafficked to even distant countries. This may involve forcing or enticing the victim into participating in sexually explicit activities.
- Discrimination and segregation: social media has widely been used to portray and enforce discriminative practices, perpetuating unequal power dynamics and reinforcing gender-based stereotypes. This can be witnessed by the exclusion from various online communities, denial of opportunities to access various digital platforms, or despising contributions based on gender.
- Impersonation and identity theft: online platforms have, over the past, been used to impersonate politicians, religious leaders, and other public figures with the particular intention of defrauding, defaming, or engaging in malice, with the possibility of reputation damage and depression.
As we enjoy the dynamic options and possibilities of online platforms, it is important that we remember to stay safe. Perpetrators of cyber-bullying and other online ways of meeting abuse, harassment, and violence are always lurking.?
Individuals also need to limit the amount of personal information shared online that can identify them, including phone numbers, emails, personal photos, addresses, bank details, and kids' photos, among others.
#IDLlabs #DataAdvocacy #DataLiteracy #DataPrivacy #DataProtection #BeCyberSmart
