Privacy online and offline-Blog #5

 Technology issues affect us by having different negative effects on us, our friends, and our families. The psychological effects are Isolation and Anxiety as well as Depression. Regarding Isolation, Social Media is designed to, in a way, bring people together who share common interests, like the same type of music, for example. But there are some cases where it has the opposite effect. There are also negative effects on people's physical health too. Some of the effects are eyestrain and sleep problems. The symptoms of digital eyestrain are blurred vision and dry eyes. Using technology too close to bedtime may cause issues with sleep. This has to do with the blue light like the light from phones and computers stimulates the brain. 

One of the ways the government could handle these issues is by holding companies accountable for breaches. Companies that fail to protect user data should face higher penalties for data breaches. Mandatory notification laws could require companies to inform users immediately after a breach instead of delaying disclosure. Another way it could be handled is through stronger data protection laws. This could require companies to get explicit consent before collecting or sharing personal data. 

Ways we can protect ourselves online are using strong or unique passwords, clear browsing data, and adjusting privacy settings.  Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. With browsing data, you should regularly delete cookies and browsing history to reduce tracking. Adjusting your privacy settings allows you to limit data sharing on social media and online servers.