Identity disaggregation (the construction and maintenance of multiple choice identities on social networking sites) has become a substantiate issues on popular social networking sites such as Facebook. Although it is a relevant issue, members of social networking sites continue to practice identity disaggregation because it creates a high level social capital for oneself that they may likely be unable to gain in the real world. While identity aggregation is widely known and practiced, the matter becomes questionably relevant when someone who is not you are falsely creating your own identity on social networking websites.
Studies have shown that more than 80% of those who participate on social networks are aware of the privacy and identity issues at hand, but more than half of the participants admitted that they do not take the necessary precautions to actively protect themselves of identity theft issues. The following link shows an article that discusses findings from a study concerning social media identity theft and the implications of the actions people take while on the these sites: The truth about social media identity theft article
Studies have shown that more than 80% of those who participate on social networks are aware of the privacy and identity issues at hand, but more than half of the participants admitted that they do not take the necessary precautions to actively protect themselves of identity theft issues. The following link shows an article that discusses findings from a study concerning social media identity theft and the implications of the actions people take while on the these sites: The truth about social media identity theft article
An example of this incident on Facebook from the past is with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, an undergraduate at Oxford University and son of Benazir Bhutto, a leader in Pakistan’s politics. A fake Facebook profile of the student was created that established the personification of a laid back womanizer with the lack of faith in his own religion. When news companies got a hold of what had seemed to be Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s authentic Facebook profile, postings from the individual were being quoted and referenced in actual news stories. Eventually, when the news came out that the profile was a fake, big news companies such as ABC, Globe and Mail, Times magazine, etc published statements informing and apologizing to its readers to falsely concluded statements taken from the fake Facebook profile. Facebook had also removed the profile, and all others that claimed to be Bhutto without the consent of the people who created the account. It was as if Bhutto never existed on Facebook at all.
This exemplification of identity disaggregation on Facebook is an issue that is constantly practiced on a daily basis. This example in particular however, just goes to show that even creating an account for a public figure and reporting on events can become so vital that the information posted on these accounts can be quoted and referenced from news companies as actual facts. Although many stories such as this one and others who have faced the same problem such as Steve Webb (member of parliament in Britain), the problem is still prevalent and will continue to be in the future of all social networking websites.
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Written by Shelley Luc
Steve Webb is an MP in Britain and has publicly announced his usage of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter during his campaigns. However, after the Bilawal Zardari Bhutto event occured, Webb's Facebook page was automatically deleted by Facebook. Facebook did not receive consent from Webb himself to verify it was actually him that created and used the account. It was as if Steve Webb the MP had never existed on Facebook until his fan page to show that it was actually him was created.
ReplyDeleteIn this link below is Steve Webb's personal website where his contact information shows the link to his actual Facebook account he has created for himself to keep in contact with his supporters:
http://www.stevewebb.org.uk/