The real cost of using social media platforms

> Selling your info to make some fast cash

Katie Czenczek
Staff Writer

 

f you use any popular social media

platform, you've probably already
noticed the eerie way in that, just when
you've finished looking up a clothing
brand or watching a video, you notice that
now all of the ads are somehow tailored
to your online activity. I’m sorry to tell
you this, but it isn’t just a coincidence,
and there are more sinister implications

than catering ads to personal users.
According to a press release
from Facebook, the information of
approximately 76 million users was leaked
to Cambridge Analytica, with 622,161
Canadians being affected. However, most
news sites reportedly ballpark the leak to
be at least 10 million more people targeted
than what Facebook has admitted to.
Users who completed an independent
personality test called “This is your digital
life...” that was available on the site put
their friends and friends of friends at risk
of sharing data without their consent.
Asa result, Mark Zuckerberg has been
called to testify for his company’s huge
oversight in not having any safety nets in
place to verify the legitimacy of an app
or program before it is granted access

to Facebook’s enormous user base.
Zuckerberg’s testimony has been

read two ways. The first is that he was

blatantly deflecting questions that

needed to be answered about internet

security—and the second was that he

is aman of the digital age attempting

to explain the Internet to people who

don’t fully comprehend how it functions.

Either way, Zuckerberg’s abrasive

demeanor certainly didn’t help.
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell
commented on Zuckerberg’s general lack

of awareness during the testimony.

“As CEO, you didn’t know some key
facts. You didn’t know about major court
cases about privacy policy against your
company. You didn’t know that the Federal
Trade Commission doesn’t have fining
authority, and that Facebook couldn't have
been fined for the 20 consent order. You
didn’t know what a shadow profile is. You
didn’t know how many other firms have

from its own users,” said Dingell.

So, you might be wondering, why
doesn't he know? First off, all of those
likes, shares, and visits to websites off of
Facebook’s accounts are monitored and
sold to third-parties. Your age, religion,
relationship status, health information,
and phone number are all accessed
through the website by signing up in
the first place, and through the data it
collects on your personal web activity

Even if you tried to delete your
account, Facebook still has access to
your info through your friends. On
certain apps, it asks you for permission
to access your phone’s contact list.

In this case, Facebook doesn’t need
to ask for your permission because

your friend has given it for you.

With all of this data, major players
in the political sphere have the ability
to target users and help politicians gain
votes. The concept of this is similar to

 

Photo of Mark Zuckerberg via Wikimedia Commons

been sold data by [Dr. Alexsandr] Kogan
[the creator of the independent phishing
app that collected the compromised
data], other than Cambridge Analytica
and Eunoia Technologies, even though
you were asked that question yesterday.
You don't even know all the kinds of
information Facebook is collecting

a two-way mirror; political parties have
access to your personal information,

but you are not aware that they do.
Another huge problem with this is that
it isn’t just Cambridge Analytica and
Eunoia Technologies that access this
information. As Dingell stated, Facebook
does not currently know how many

 

companies out there have the same kind
of access, let alone all of the other sites

that use data tracking to make a profit.
It truly begs the question: Is

your personal information worth

the cost of using your favourite

social media platform?

j Great Inclinations:
Starter hikes for the

Lie

ae

7

hiker just starting out

> Conquer the beginner hikes before challenging yourself further

Jacey Gibb
Distribution Manager

Great Inclinations is your go-to source for
diving into the world of casual hiking in
and around the Lower Mainland. Because
hiking’s not just for assholes anymore.

he semester is coming to an end. Cherry
blossoms are poppin’ off left and right, and
pollen levels are uncomfortably high. It’s the perfect
time of year to get outside for some hiking.
Whether youre an experienced hiker who
has just been taking the winter months off, or
someone who is embarking on their first hike,
the following trails are a great start to the
season. It’s still April, though, so remember that
hiking conditions can change quickly at higher

- elevations. It’s also a good idea to check websites

like Vancouver Trails to see if anyone’s commented
on the trail’s conditions recently—some hikes
have snow on them right into. summer.

High Knoll
Located in Coquitlam, the High Knoll is a fantastic

P PRGCRLUCUOetl cou aul: Vmest tore event pelea eC Mase

Paths run alongside—and eventually cut through—a

' marshland, which offers some diversity from the

heavily-forested terrain featured’on most hikes.
There are a couple variations you can take on the

hike, including, different lookouts, but the real money
shot is from the High Knoll Lookout. Best of all, the
High Knoll’s remoteness and expansiveness means
you ll get to hike.in near-isolation from other hikers.

Mystery Lake 5
Mount Seymour offers plenty of trails.to explore, but &
the hike up to Mystery Lake is ideal for beginners. [
The ascent is quick over a moderate incline, which  *
ends at the aforementioned lake. Take some time to
explore around the lake and find the least-crowded
area to havea picnic,befere heading back down.

If youre hiking Mystery Lake later in the summer,
make sure to packa bathing suit fora victory dip!

IDXoym\ Ceytbaiecv oat we
1 know I’ve mentioned it-before, but it has a brilliant
hike-to-payoff ratio. Dog Mountain offers plenty

of areas along the hike to-stop, including shallow
lakes-and.ponds, making-the push to the top all the
more fun. Your reward? A gorgeous view of Metro
Vancouver, as well as anorthern view over valleys

and other mountains. Springtime hiking on Dog
Mountain can be a slush-fest, though, so make sure
you're wearing water-proof boots before embarking. 3

Buntzen Lake

Less of a hike and more of a leisurely multi-hour
stroll; Buntzen Lake is a great introduction to
anyone interested in hiking, but still holding out.
A loop around the lake takes between three to
four hours and is fairly flat aside from some steep
elevation changes on the northern side. For bonus
enjoyment, research the countless movies and
television shows that have filmed at Buntzen, so
you can dazzle your co-hiker(s) with useless trivia.

ah

  

Photo by Analyn Cuarto