Why More People Are Scaling Back Their Online Presence
In recent years, the rise of online fraud, privacy concerns, and sophisticated scams has prompted many people to reassess how much they share online. From personal experiences to growing awareness of the risks, individuals are making a conscious effort to scale back their online profiles. Here’s a look into why this trend is gaining traction.
Personal Experience Sparks Caution: Anita Smith’s Story
Anita Smith, a communications professional, has always been cautious about her online presence. However, her concerns intensified after experiencing an abusive relationship and subsequent stalking. Despite police intervention, the situation led Smith to leave the UK and dramatically scale back her online activities.
“I erased my online presence as much as I possibly could, including removing the locations of some posts, and a couple of Instagram accounts,” says Smith, whose name has been changed for privacy reasons.
Smith still maintains a LinkedIn account, but with significant changes—she does not use her full name and has removed many location-based details. “I deleted quite a few things off my LinkedIn too, lots of things that were location-based, although a few posts do remain,” she explains. Though she continues to build her personal brand, she remains skeptical about how much she shares.
In addition to LinkedIn, Smith keeps a private Facebook account that she revisits annually. “I cleanse it once a year, and check on photos and privacy of posts and where I have been tagged.”
With growing awareness of the ethical implications of sharing personal images, Smith is cautious about the use of her data. “I follow AI trends and I know a lot of images are training AI models, and we don’t have ethical guidelines on how they can be used. That’s another massive factor why I will never put my child on social media, as the images can be used for whatever they want.”
The Growing Concerns About Privacy and Data Use
As scams become increasingly sophisticated, research shows that more people are becoming wary about the information they share online. According to Statista, 39% of respondents are concerned about how companies handle their online data, while 26% have taken steps like using a VPN (virtual private network) for added security.
Why Are People Scaling Back Their Online Presence?
Vytautas Kaziukonis, CEO of Surfshark, a company that specializes in encrypting users’ online data, offers some insight into this growing trend. According to Kaziukonis, there are several reasons why people might feel the need to reduce their digital footprint.
“First of all, people underappreciate privacy,” says Kaziukonis. “What might seem like innocent information today could bring you difficulties ten years down the line, especially if there are changes in laws or the political environment.”
He also points to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) as a significant factor. “Fraud is getting better and better, and one thing that is essential for all scams is having data,” Kaziukonis says. AI can now impersonate people close to you, creating a dangerous combination when coupled with personal data shared online.
Data brokers collect personal information and sell it to advertisers and scammers alike, leading Kaziukonis to describe the situation as “the Wild West.”
Practical Steps to Protect Your Online Presence
To minimize digital footprints, Kaziukonis offers several practical recommendations:
- Limit Personal Information: Avoid sharing sensitive details like your home address, and be mindful when posting videos that might accidentally reveal private information in the background.
- Use a Different Email for Websites: This helps limit spam and reduces the chances of your data being leaked.
- Know Your Rights: Under data protection law, you can request companies to disclose what data they hold on you and have it deleted if necessary. “They have to comply as otherwise, they can receive huge fines,” Kaziukonis adds.
Other privacy experts, like Gus Hosein, executive director at Privacy International, recommend using a VPN for better online privacy and opting for cookie-blockers and privacy-focused web browsers.
What You Need to Know About Cookies and VPNs
A VPN is a service that encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for third parties to track your online activities. Cookie-blockers, on the other hand, prevent websites from storing information about your browsing habits, enhancing privacy. Understanding and managing cookies is a fundamental aspect of securing your data.
The Growing Threat of Data Brokers
Some people go as far as using services like DeleteMe or Surfshark to remove personal information from data brokers. Amanda Unterreiner, product manager at DeleteMe, notes that high-profile individuals, such as judges and video gamers, often use the service to protect their privacy.
“In the case of judges… because if they’re announcing some decision, someone might show up at their house,” she explains. Unterreiner shares her own experience of having her data removed, noting that her information, including past addresses and phone numbers, was readily accessible on the first page of Google.
DeleteMe also offers a service that masks your home on Google Maps, protecting you from unwanted attention in street-view images.
A Growing Trend: More People Cutting Back Their Online Presence
For individuals like Saam Collingwood, a resident of Stratford-upon-Avon, the decision to scale back online presence came after several personal experiences. She first reduced her online exposure following an incident at work when her employer became unhappy about her personal Facebook account being included in a client email. Additionally, being trolled after posting a video on YouTube convinced her further to limit her online activities.
Collingwood still maintains a presence on social media, but her activity is much more limited. “I don’t like it when people tag me, people knowing I’m not at home. Most times I remove the tag,” she says. She has also upgraded her security software to make her online interactions more secure.
The Downside of Scaling Back
While reducing one’s online presence has many benefits, there are also some drawbacks. As Anita Smith reflects, she misses reconnecting with old friends through Facebook. “I miss seeing old friends [on Facebook] and people I would contact once or twice a year,” she admits.
Vytautas Kaziukonis highlights the common argument that people “don’t care about privacy” because they feel they have nothing to hide. He challenges this notion: “They say I have nothing to hide. But would they mind sharing every single email they have sent? We have curtains at home, we want to feel private. It’s human nature.”
Conclusion: A Growing Awareness of Digital Privacy
The trend of reducing one’s online presence is not just a passing fad but a response to increasing concerns about privacy, online fraud, and data misuse. As more people become aware of the risks and take steps to safeguard their personal information, the conversation around online privacy will continue to evolve. Whether through better data management practices or using services to remove personal information from the internet, protecting digital footprints is now more important than ever
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