Technology is becoming increasingly available to not only teenagers, but kids of all ages. With an increasing percent of students with tablets and phones, it is easier to have the world seemingly in our hands. As more availability continues, serious problems arise. The extend of personal privacy is being questioned. Now that it is so easy to take a picture or video with a smartphone, students are violating personal privacy rights that were once implied.

Students and teachers are seeing the effects of this ease of accessibility. Someone may catch another student at the wrong time. We all have embarrassing photos. Sometimes it’s just a joke, but other times wrongfully invading someones privacy by taking an embarrassing picture of them can lead to more serious harm.

Even more harmful than the picture itself is the effects it can have on a student. Once a piece of media is captured, it only takes seconds for it to be uploaded to the internet. It can destroy future relationships or careers. Technology being apart of our lives more and more everyday is good in some ways. But recently colleges and business are looking at social media sites before accepting or hiring you. Now this can either help or seriously hurt some people depending on what is on the internet. The window of ‘Stop and Think’ has become narrowed to seconds simply because our technology is so fast.

Bo Pelini’s rant on Husker fans is a good professional example of a negative video going viral. He thought a conversation was private and was mistaken. Once the tape was released, everyone knew about it and it tarnished Pelini’s reputation.

The personal conversation you may have with your friend can easily be screenshot. Feelings do get hurt and careers can get destroyed.
Stop and think before you take a picture, screenshot or post anything to the internet. Because once “innocent” picture, text, or screenshot gets out there it is there forever, and it could come back to bite you. There are individuals or groups of people you could harm through your actions online. Be smart with your technology.