With everything we have been talking about, both in class and on the blog, about social networks and virtual realities I started thinking about whether or not there needs to laws set in place on the internet for the general safety of users. Now some of you may be asking yourself, why does there need to be laws set in place on something that many believe to be an "alternate" reality? However, in many cases, mostly those dealing with social networks, this so-called "alternate" reality affects users in real life as well.
0:51-6:43
This also happens with online gaming as well, but it is not a serious as one the shown in the clip. Your personal social website or gamer identification is your property right? So, my question is that should social networking websites or online gaming websites be doing more to protect your identity? Your property? Or your safety? Right now someone can hack on to your account and pretty much do whatever they want without consequence and it is coming at a price to those who are on the receiving end.
This clip sent a jolt of fear and slight paranoia through me, but that's just how I am.
Anyway, I believe that social networking websites and online gaming websites indeed should do more to protect our identity, but it also does depend on us and whether or not we will be smart enough to protect our identities on sites we use.
Facebook may be safer than myspace, but it is still possible for someone to hack into your account. They did for one of my friends constantly till she had to deactivate it and reactivate it later on. She clicked on a link her brother sent her, though it turns out her brother was hacked as well.
The only reason her friends didn't get hacked (that I know of as of now) is due to her sending text messages explaining what had happened and to just ignore anything from her account.
So, yes, these accounts are our property, sites must protect them, but we must also abide to the ToS and also have constant vigilance on what can happen if we're not careful.