Issue: social networking

Many people use the Internet for social networking. Using Facebook and/or MySpace as examples, discuss the benefits and risks involved.

• What are the benefits of social networking systems?
1. Keeping in touch with others both near and far away
2. Advertising
3. Creativity and personal expression
4. Entertainment
5. Easy way to make friends
6. Share pictures
7. Something to do when bored
8. Easy quick communication
9. Keep up on social events
10. Job opportunities
11. Networking
12. Keeping in touch with people you would not normally keep in touch with
13. Find old friends
14. Form groups
15. Police can catch people involved in illegal acts
16. You can block people
• What are the risks of social networking systems?
1. Facebook creepers and stalkers
2. Too much personal information put out there
3. Gossip
4. Incriminating pictures
5. Pedophiles
6. Don't really know for sure who you are talking to
7. Someone could gain access to your private information
8. Businesses
9. Viruses
10. Spammers
11. False advertisements
12. False identities
13. Drama
14. People you don't want to talk to can find you
15. Harassment
16. Getting caught by police
17. Identity theft
18. Blackmail
19. Employers can look there
• How can these risks be addressed?
1. Privacy control settings
2. Monitoring of public sites
3. Government tracking
4. Don't post personal information
5. Don't post information you don't want others to see
6. Don't accept friend requests from people you don't know
7. Don't click unknown links
8. Don't put bad pictures or negative blogs up on your profile
9. Use a virus protector
10. Create a new page if things get bad
11. Block people who cause problems
12. Avoid being guilty by association
13. Use a different name

Issue: medical information

It is possible for a person's medical history to bestored in databases located on servers accessible via the Internet (not necessarily the Web).

• What are the benefits of having medical history information available online?
1. Quicker than flipping through files
2. Save storage space
3. Accessible anywhere
4. Others can get this information even if you are unconcious
5. Easy to access in an emergency situation
6. Records will not be lost or misplaced
7. Easier for medical personnel to access after you move
8. Other doctors can view information to treat you
9. Better organized
10. Always available
11. Saves time
12. Find out information while ambulance is on call
13. You can learn your family history of diseases
14. Never have to re-enter information
15. All information is gathered in one place
16. Effective against mistakes
17. Provides research data
18. If your identity is stolen, can be used to prove you are you
• What are the risks of having medical history information available online?
1. People can see entire medical history
2. Security can be compromised
3. If computer system breaks the information is gone forever
4. An unauthorized person can access and/or change the information
5. Easy identity theft
6. Employers may not hire you due to your health problems
7. Privacy issues and hackers
8. Mistaken identity
9. Public can know your personal information
10. Public would be able to know your weaknesses and take advantage of them
11. Computer could go down, delaying access to information in an emergency
12. Misdiagnosis
13. Professionals exploiting others rights
• How can these risks be addressed?
1. Keep information locked
2. Store paper files in addition to online
3. Really secure network
4. Take security measures with logins, passwords, etc
5. Limiting who can access info
6. Letting you know who can access info
7. Letting you control who can access info
8. Have residens double check info for allergens and and diseases
9. Fingerprints
10. Find a way to have it removed
11. Backup computer databases
12. Chart auditing
13. Limit what you put online
14. BE SMART
15. Use identity chips in humans!